ByChow.
Independent China travel checklist · Item 6/6

High-speed train

China's high-speed trains (Gaotie, train codes G and D) are extremely smooth, on time to the minute and much more convenient than flying for short routes. The biggest plus today is that the railway uses 100% e-tickets linked directly to your passport number, so you no longer need to print tickets or queue to collect them.

To make the trip smooth from the planning stage, here is what I learned about booking tickets and what actually happens at the station.

ChowWritten by Chow · Updated 11/2026 · 5 min read

How to book China high-speed train tickets on Trip.com

For first-time independent travellers, I honestly recommend booking on Trip.com rather than struggling with the domestic railway app 12306. 12306 is the official app with no middleman fees, but passport verification for foreigners often fails or hangs for weeks, international cards are unreliable, and contacting them in Chinese to change a ticket when a train is delayed or cancelled is a real nightmare.

Trip.com has a Vietnamese interface, Visa/Mastercard payment goes through instantly, and above all it has a presale feature that books for you before tickets officially go on sale.

Steps to book on Trip.com

  1. 1
    Search the route: Open the Trip.com app > chooseTrains> enter departure, destination and date. Check the station names carefully (for example Chengdu has Chengdu East, Chengdu South... avoid picking a station far from your hotel).
    Trip.com: choose Train tickets, enter departure, destination and date, then tap Search
    Train tickets → enter stations and date → Search
  2. 2
    Choose the train and class: Prefer G trains (fastest) or D trains. Second Class is the best value and still very roomy and comfortable; only consider First Class for long journeys over 4–5 hours.
    Trip.com: list of high-speed trains and seat classes, tap Book on the class you want
    Choose a train, then tap Book on the seat class you want
  3. 3
    Enter passenger details: Tap Add/edit passenger info > Add Passenger. Enter your name exactly as in your passport (capital letters, no accents, e.g. NGUYEN VAN A) and your passport number. One wrong character and station staff will not let you through. You can also scan your passport to fill in the details.
    Trip.com: adding a passenger with passport details when booking a high-speed train
    Add/edit passenger info → Add Passenger → enter details or upload your passport
  4. 4
    Payments: Pay by international card and check the confirmation email. The order shows the train number, carriage (Coach) and seat (Seat).

Note:Once you have entered your details, Trip.com saves them, so next time you only need to pick your name instead of typing everything again.

See also: How to pay in China

5 steps at the station

China's high-speed stations are as big as international airports, so be sure to arrive at least 45–60 minutes before departure.

  1. 1
    Enter through the manual lane (Manual Lane): The entrance has 2 kinds of lanes. Don't use the automatic ID-card lanes for locals. Look for the lane with staff (usually signed Staff Service / Manual Lane) and hand over your original passport to be scanned.
    Manual lane (Manual Channel, 人工通道) at a China high-speed station entrance, staff scanning a passport
    Manual lane (人工通道 / Manual Channel) at the station entrance · Source: chinaguide101.com
  2. 2
    Security check: Put all suitcases, backpacks and bags on the X-ray belt and walk through the metal detector. Knives and scissors, high-pressure aerosol cans (facial mist or spray sunscreen are often confiscated) and power banks with no visible capacity are strictly banned. Bottles of water or containers of liquid over 100ml are not allowed.
  3. 3
    Find your check-in gate (Check-in Gate): In the main waiting hall, look up at the big departure board and find your train number. It shows the matching gate (e.g. Gate 10A or 10B). Go and wait near that gate. All gate information is updated in Trip.com once your booking succeeds, and a reminder notification appears a few hours before departure.
  4. 4
    Ticket check to the platform: The gate opens about 15–20 minutes before departure and closes 5 minutes before. Again use the lane where staff check and scan your passport, then go down to the platform (Platform). Follow the painted carriage numbers on the floor to stand where your carriage will stop.
  5. 5
    Board and store your luggage: Board the right carriage and sit in the seat on your ticket. Put backpacks and small bags on the overhead rack; big 24–28 inch suitcases go in the luggage area at each end of the carriage.

Note:Trains have plenty of luggage space, but some routes are always full and packed with luggage, such as Chengdu – Jiuzhaigou and Beijing – Shanghai. Make sure to queue early to get a luggage spot, otherwise you will have to keep your bags at your feet, which is quite cramped.

Chow's note: A few small tips that can save your trip:

  • Free boiling water:Every carriage has a boiling-water dispenser (100°C) at one end. Bring a thermos, or buy cup noodles and tea bags before boarding to have a hot snack on the way.
  • Charging sockets:Right under your seat or under the seat in front there is always a 220V socket and a USB port to charge your phone throughout the journey.
  • Very short stops:At intermediate stations the train only stops for 2 to 3 minutes before the doors close and it leaves. Never step out onto the platform to take photos or get some air, or you will be left behind instantly.

If you arrive at a high-speed station and want to get to your hotel, don't miss the guide to riding the metro in China.

ByChow.
Checklist · Item 6/6

High-speed train

China's high-speed trains (Gaotie, train codes G and D) are extremely smooth, on time to the minute and much more convenient than flying for short routes. The biggest plus today is that the railway uses 100% e-tickets linked directly to your passport number, so you no longer need to print tickets or queue to collect them.

To make the trip smooth from the planning stage, here is what I learned about booking tickets and what actually happens at the station.

ChowWritten by Chow · Updated 11/2026 · 5 min read

How to book China high-speed train tickets on Trip.com

For first-time independent travellers, I honestly recommend booking on Trip.com rather than struggling with the domestic railway app 12306. 12306 is the official app with no middleman fees, but passport verification for foreigners often fails or hangs for weeks, international cards are unreliable, and contacting them in Chinese to change a ticket when a train is delayed or cancelled is a real nightmare.

Trip.com has a Vietnamese interface, Visa/Mastercard payment goes through instantly, and above all it has a presale feature that books for you before tickets officially go on sale.

Steps to book on Trip.com

  1. 1
    Search the route: Open the Trip.com app > chooseTrains> enter departure, destination and date. Check the station names carefully (for example Chengdu has Chengdu East, Chengdu South... avoid picking a station far from your hotel).
    Trip.com: choose Train tickets, enter departure, destination and date, then tap Search
    Train tickets → enter stations and date → Search
  2. 2
    Choose the train and class: Prefer G trains (fastest) or D trains. Second Class is the best value and still very roomy and comfortable; only consider First Class for long journeys over 4–5 hours.
    Trip.com: list of high-speed trains and seat classes, tap Book on the class you want
    Choose a train, then tap Book on the seat class you want
  3. 3
    Enter passenger details: Tap Add/edit passenger info > Add Passenger. Enter your name exactly as in your passport (capital letters, no accents, e.g. NGUYEN VAN A) and your passport number. One wrong character and station staff will not let you through. You can also scan your passport to fill in the details.
    Trip.com: adding a passenger with passport details when booking a high-speed train
    Add/edit passenger info → Add Passenger → enter details or upload your passport
  4. 4
    Payments: Pay by international card and check the confirmation email. The order shows the train number, carriage (Coach) and seat (Seat).

Note:Once you have entered your details, Trip.com saves them, so next time you only need to pick your name instead of typing everything again.

See also: How to pay in China

5 steps at the station

China's high-speed stations are as big as international airports, so be sure to arrive at least 45–60 minutes before departure.

  1. 1
    Enter through the manual lane (Manual Lane): The entrance has 2 kinds of lanes. Don't use the automatic ID-card lanes for locals. Look for the lane with staff (usually signed Staff Service / Manual Lane) and hand over your original passport to be scanned.
    Manual lane (Manual Channel, 人工通道) at a China high-speed station entrance, staff scanning a passport
    Manual lane (人工通道 / Manual Channel) at the station entrance · Source: chinaguide101.com
  2. 2
    Security check: Put all suitcases, backpacks and bags on the X-ray belt and walk through the metal detector. Knives and scissors, high-pressure aerosol cans (facial mist or spray sunscreen are often confiscated) and power banks with no visible capacity are strictly banned. Bottles of water or containers of liquid over 100ml are not allowed.
  3. 3
    Find your check-in gate (Check-in Gate): In the main waiting hall, look up at the big departure board and find your train number. It shows the matching gate (e.g. Gate 10A or 10B). Go and wait near that gate. All gate information is updated in Trip.com once your booking succeeds, and a reminder notification appears a few hours before departure.
  4. 4
    Ticket check to the platform: The gate opens about 15–20 minutes before departure and closes 5 minutes before. Again use the lane where staff check and scan your passport, then go down to the platform (Platform). Follow the painted carriage numbers on the floor to stand where your carriage will stop.
  5. 5
    Board and store your luggage: Board the right carriage and sit in the seat on your ticket. Put backpacks and small bags on the overhead rack; big 24–28 inch suitcases go in the luggage area at each end of the carriage.

Note:Trains have plenty of luggage space, but some routes are always full and packed with luggage, such as Chengdu – Jiuzhaigou and Beijing – Shanghai. Make sure to queue early to get a luggage spot, otherwise you will have to keep your bags at your feet, which is quite cramped.

Chow's note: A few small tips that can save your trip:

  • Free boiling water:Every carriage has a boiling-water dispenser (100°C) at one end. Bring a thermos, or buy cup noodles and tea bags before boarding to have a hot snack on the way.
  • Charging sockets:Right under your seat or under the seat in front there is always a 220V socket and a USB port to charge your phone throughout the journey.
  • Very short stops:At intermediate stations the train only stops for 2 to 3 minutes before the doors close and it leaves. Never step out onto the platform to take photos or get some air, or you will be left behind instantly.

If you arrive at a high-speed station and want to get to your hotel, don't miss the guide to riding the metro in China.