How to Get On/Off the High Speed Train in China

Besides your entire luggage, digital devices and other items, don’t forget your valid identity documents for taking the high speed train. Citizens from other countries and regions bring your valid passport, while people from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan need to carry your valid Mainland Travel Permit. Of course, Chinese citizens take your valid ID card.

Prepare Your Ticket & Passport

Scanning passport without collecting paper tickets to board train is only available in some train stations. Just in case of missing trains, you'd better go to collect your paper tickets before check-in.

Booking online is actually not very recommended for foreign travelers in China, because besides the official website of only Chinese version for booking, there would be some more complicated process for your payment. However, if you do not want to expressly rush to the train station to buy the ticket, just throw that booking part to China Discovery.

If you book your train online, make sure to write down your order number. Before you go through the checking process, you need to collect your paper tickets (取票) first. Usually, for passengers from other countries, we suggest you get the tickets at the window of the train station. Just show your order number and your valid passport which you have used to order that ticket to the staff. Remember, one document for one ticket. If you want to collect paper tickets of other people, show their passports simultaneously. Although, there offer some self-service ticket machines, they are only available for citizens in mainland China so far.

Want to know guide to pick up your train tickets? Please visit our How to Collect China (High Speed) Train Tickets and Useful Chinese Phrases for China Train Travel!

Change E Tickets into Paper Ones

You train ticket tells everything you need to board and disembark a high speed train. So remember to read the ticket before you start to the train station. You will clearly see the departure time (by year, month, date, hour and minutes), departure and arrival train stations both in English and Chinese, train type, train number, carriage number, seat class/number, passport number & passenger’s name, boarding gate, prices, etc. It’s worth noting again that please pay specially attention to the departure station and make sure which one you should go. And also, boarding is usually arranged 15-20 minutes before departure. The back of the ticket gives some practical notices for taking a high speed train.

>> Check more about How to Book, Collect and Read Your Train Tickets

Click to See How to Read Your Train Ticket

Chinese passengers could go through this identity check (验票) by the automatic checking machines which are only acceptable for Chinese ID Card so far. For foreign visitors, you could go through the manual checking points. As there are several queues for manual checking process, you can join in any one of them. Show your ticket and passport to the staff and face to the camera to recognize your image, and then, he/she would seal on your ticket to show you pass the real-name recognition. At some comparatively smaller train stations, the staff would directly verify your real look and the image on your passport to go through the step.

Click to See How to Pass the Identity Check

After the security control process, join another queue for the security check and luggage check (安检)at the site next to. This step is like that for catching a plane, however, the whole process is much simpler and faster. Just place your luggage into the security inspection equipment, and go through the safety-check. You can always keep your coat, belt and shoes on, but only sometimes need to take off your hat for a quick check. Then, after the guard staff (usually females) quickly and harmlessly pat down on your body with the scanner, get your luggage at the other side of the equipment.

Every passengers can carry some luggage for free when board the high speed train. Moreover, the size, weight and limitations of items are more pleasant than that for boarding a plane. Please have a good notice the detailed amount, size and limited and prohibited items at below.

• ● Regular passengers can take 20 kg carry-on luggage, children can take 10 kg carry-on luggage, and 35 kg for diplomat.
• ● For bullet trains, every piece of luggage (length, width and height) cannot exceed 160 cm in size and 20 kg in weight.
• ● Passengers can take wheelchairs onboard for free and not listed as the above limitations.

>> Check more about Baggage Allowance & Policies for China Trains

Go Through the Luggage Check

Get the Security Check

Usually you could know which boarding gate to go to by reading the number at the top right corner on your train ticket.

Besides, after you go through the security check, you can also know the boarding gate (检票口) from the LED schedule board at the departure concourse. It shows which train is allocated to which waiting room, and also the status of every train. At some stations there are in Chinese, but you can easily make out your train number and departure time, the platform or gate number to go to. Find yours and go to the waiting room. Most trains will be shown as “on time” with the most immediate departures shown as “waiting”, which means you can enter that train’s specific waiting room. When you get to the waiting room, if the train has not started its ticket checking, you could have a sit on the chairs seats.

8) Ticket Check for Getting on the Train

Once a high speed train is ready for boarding, usually about 15-30 minutes before departure, it’s shown as “check in (检票中)” which means you can proceed through to the platform. Also, the broadcasting system would announce the boarding notice during the ticket checking period. If your hold a blue ticket, slide your ticket into the machine (like at a subway), pull it out of the slot and the turnstiles will open. While, if you have a red ticket, go through the ticket checking from the manual checking queue. Usually, barriers close 3-8 minutes before departure, and the train is then shown as “Stop Boarding (停止检票)”.

Don’t throw your tickets away!! Please keep the train ticket in good condition since you will use it to exit the train station at your destination.

9) Get to the Right Platform

Your high speed train usually stops right there below your boarding gate. Just walk from the stairs, or take the elevators or escalators, you can arrive in front of your train. In some smaller cities, some boarding gates are at the same floor with the platform, so once you pass the ticket checker and walk from the door, you can arrive at the platform.

10) Get On Your Train

After you reach the platform, follow the signs to get to your correct train carriage (车厢). Safety is most important. Remember always walking within the yellow line and keeping away from other trains, especially those are moving. As every carriage shows its number and the running route on the LED screen, you will easily find you carriage for boarding. In the carriage, both sides show the seat number (座位号) of each row. Read your ticket again to reconfirm your seat. If you take not much and a little luggage, just stow it on the roof rack above your seat. While if you are travelling with large suitcases, put them in the closet either end of the train carriage.

>> Check more Details about Classes of Seat on High Speed Trains

Find Your Correct Boarding Gate

Ticket Checking for Train Boarding

Click to See How to Find Your Train Carriage & Board

Click to See How to Find Your Seat Number in Your Carriage

If your destination is not the terminus of the train, you need to listen to the stop announcements and pay attention to stop information on the LED screen, both in English and Chinese, carefully. Station announcements usually come at least 10 minutes before each stop to give travelers time to prepare for collecting their baggage off the racks to get off the train. If you get confused, it is strongly advised that you show your tickets to a member of the train staff or just a passenger next to you and ask her/him to remind you to get off. You could write or type a word like:”到这个车站请提醒我下车,谢谢! (which means that please remind me to get off the train while arriving at this stop, thank you!)”

Attention to the Stop Annoucement

Please remember to take your whole luggage and all belongs with you when embark the high speed train. In a stop at a large city like Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Xian, etc. or the terminus stop, you could take your time to avoid the crowed in the aisle and train exit. However, it has usually only 2-3 minutes’ stop in a not very big train station. If so, please get off the train with all your baggage as quick and safe as possible. If you feel it a little hurry, you are suggested take your luggage to wait at the train door as it gives the announcement.

Once you land on the platform, you will see clear signs above head showing you the way out. To make it simpler, you can just follow the crowd and then successfully get to the correct exit for ticket checking again.

Get Off the High Speed Train

Subways, taxis, buses or coaches are all available in some big cities. And in some not very prosperous destinations, they also have buses and taxis for your easy transfer to the downtown and the scenic areas. No matter where you are in the station, the logical and conspicuous signs and arrows will tell you where to take a taxi, subway, bus, airport shuttle bus, or distance coaches and way to different exit of the station.

Reassuring Transfer with China Discovery

Unwilling to walk a long way and wait in a line to catch a bus/taxi/subway? If you are picked up by our local guide, she/he will wait for you at the train exits. As someone will do the driving to your hotel and your luggage will be places well in the trunk, you could appreciate the appearance of your destination with relaxation or have a rest. Please feel free to contact our travel expert if you need the local pickup service.

Clear Signs of Groups Transportation and Exit

Tips of Porter Service for Boarding & Disembarkation: in almost train stations in China, there are some porters with red cap and waistcoat (小红帽) cooperated with the train station. They can take your luggage from the entrance of the station to your carriage of the train smoothly, so you can get to the normative specified area on the floor of the boarding gate to have a rest and wait for the train, board your train with his guide through standard and convenient special passage and without carrying your luggage by yourself. Also, porters also can take your luggage from the platform to your taxi or other types of vehicle after your arrival. Such kinds of services need extra charges, and you can know the detailed prices in site after arriving at the train stations.

Red Capped Porter at Train Station