How to Book China Train Tickets?

Online Travel Agency

An efficient and secure way for foreign tourists to book and purchase train tickets in China is by using a reliable online travel agency. However, buying through travel agencies the costs can be more, since travel agencies will charge a service fee. On the other hand, you will know that the booking is guaranteed and fixed.

Dozens of trains can be found, when searching online train schedule through the web. However, beware that not all train tickets are available for purchase such as short distance tickets. If the travel distance takes a small part in a long distance journey a ticket could not be purchased. In some cases, tickets are only purchasable in the departure city.

Compulsory documents such as full name and passport number are required for each passenger when booking tickets. E-tickets are not provided and tickets are not deliverable to countries abroad. However, we provide the possibility to deliver tickets to your hotel of staying according to your arrival in the city where you would like to depart by train.

CITS is now offering on-line booking service for train ticket, which allows you to depart from many cities throughout China. To start your booking, please click China domestic train booking .

Buy Tickets at the Rail Station

Rail stations at big cities such as Beijing and Shanghai have a special English-speaking ticket counter for foreigners. In Beijing, tickets can be bought at the Beijing Main Rail Station, the Beijing West Rail Station or Beijing South Rail Station. Be aware that only domestic Chinese tickets are sold, thus no international tickets. Allow plenty of time to buy your ticket, as you may have to queue.

Note, before buying tickets at the rail station, check the opening date for purchase. High-speed train tickets in the C, D, G or Z-category could be purchased 10 days before departure. For the high-speed train tickets in the K or T category are only open 5 days before departure. Tickets are only purchasable during the opening date. Opening dates are subject to change during the Chinese holidays or festivals such as spring festival or national holidays. It is recommended to buy tickets as soon as they could be purchased.

Online Booking with China Railway Customer Service Center

Passengers can book train tickets online on China Railway Customer Service Center (www.12306.cn). As of 2012, all train tickets are available online. However the website is only available in Chinese.

Online reservation service is only offered to its registered users, for tickets in 1-10 days usually (1-12 days in advance for 2012 Spring Festival Rush). Payment online are applicable for bank card of the Bank of China, China Merchants Bank, Agricultural Bank of China, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and bank cards stipulated by China Union Pay. The users should open up the e-currency payment service.

Telephone booking is available in several cities but only for local citizens. For the following cities, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Wuhan, Nanchang, Taiyuan, Shenyang, Zhengzhou and Lanzhou the number 95105105 is applicable. For Chengdu 96006 and for Xian 96688.