High-speed rail in China
The world’s largest high-speed network — how to book, board and not miss your train.
What everyone needs to know
- Book on the official 12306 app or site (English available); booking opens 15 days ahead.
- Your name and passport number must match your passport exactly, character for character.
- No physical ticket is needed — your passport is the ticket at the gate.
- Arrive 30–45 minutes early: stations are large, there is a security queue, and gates close 5 minutes before departure.
The numbers
| Item | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Booking window | 15 days ahead |
| Gate closes | 5 minutes before departure |
| Typical speed | 300–350 km/h on G trains |
| Second class | ≈¥0.45 per km |
Do it in this order
- Create a 12306 account with your passport and complete identity verification.
- Book the G (fastest) service where available; D trains are slower and often not much cheaper.
- Choose your seat class — second class is fine for up to 4 hours, first class for longer.
- At the station, use the passport gate; keep the passport in hand for the whole process.
Mistakes to avoid
- Booking under a name that does not byte-match the passport.
- Arriving 10 minutes before departure at a station the size of an airport.
- Expecting food service on board to be good — buy supplies at the station.
Sources
High-speed rail city by city
- Beijing
- Shanghai
- Xi'an
- Chengdu
- Chongqing
- Guilin
- Zhangjiajie
- Hangzhou
- Guangzhou
- Shenzhen
- Harbin
- Sanya
- Lijiang
- Kunming
- Suzhou
- Xiamen
- Zhengzhou
- Taiyuan
- Guiyang
- Fuzhou
- Yiwu
- Tianjin
- Nanjing
- Wuhan
- Changsha
- Qingdao
- Jinan
- Shenyang
- Dalian
- Changchun
- Hohhot
- Urumqi
- Lhasa
- Xining
- Lanzhou
- Yinchuan
- Dunhuang
- Luoyang
- Kaifeng
- Datong
- Pingyao
- Qufu
- Tai'an
- Huangshan
- Hefei
- Nanchang
- Wenzhou
- Ningbo
- Wuxi
- Yangzhou
- Shaoxing
- Zhuhai
- Foshan
- Dongguan
- Haikou
- Nanning
- Yangshuo
- Dali
- Shangri-La
- Xishuangbanna