How to buy bullet train ticket in China?

How to get a bullet train ticket in China?

Snagging a China bullet train ticket? Child’s play! Well, almost.

• 12306 Railway site is key: Think of it as China’s own quirky, slightly temperamental, but essential railway ticket portal. Sort of like that uncle who always shows up late but brings the good snacks.

• App Upgrade Alert: The 12306 app? Forever morphing. Updates galore! Embrace the chaos. It’s like its a Tamagotchi… except trains.

• Service Hours, Uh-Oh! Ticketing from 5 AM to 1 AM daily, sweet. But Tuesdays? Midnight curfew! 24 hrs for refunds though! Oh the rollercoaster, huh?

It seems so official to put down the ticket hours, but who memorizes this, really? Like, am I setting an alarm for 4:55 AM to grab a seat? I doubt it! Also, ‘upgrade’ the app? It still has that early 2000s website vibe.

How to buy train tickets on 12306?

Navigating 12306: A User’s Survival Guide

First, you’ll need a 12306 account. Think of it as your passport to the railway wonderland – but significantly less romantic. Use your passport details, obviously. Don’t forget, my Aunt Mildred tried using her cat’s birthday and it didn’t work!

Identity verification? Piece of cake for foreign passports now, mostly online. It’s less complicated than explaining to my grandma how to use a smartphone.

Finding your train: Enter your departure and arrival cities. It’s simpler than finding a decent cup of coffee in Beijing. Pick your dates carefully – I once booked a trip to Harbin in July thinking it was February. I froze!

Train selection: Choose your steed. First class is like a royal carriage; second class feels like a slightly less crowded sardine can. My personal preference is definitely first, unless I’m feeling adventurous.

Passenger details: Names and passport details – you know the drill. This section is as boring as watching paint dry, though significantly less colorful.

Payment: Alipay, WeChat Pay, or UnionPay. I use Alipay, purely because the little ant logo is oddly cute.

Confirmation: You get a message. Your e-ticket will be in your app. Don’t lose it – unless you want to re-enact a hilarious scene from a Jackie Chan movie.

• Pro-tip: Download the app. Seriously, doing this on the website is akin to assembling IKEA furniture blindfolded.
• Beware: The site/app can be glitchy. Have patience. It’s the digital equivalent of Chinese whispers.
• Bonus Tip: Learn a few basic Mandarin phrases. It might help, especially if your train is delayed (which, let’s face it, is a strong possibility). I learned how to say “Is this the right train to Shanghai?” which proved useful many times.

How to collect a train ticket in China?

Okay, so lemme tell you about that time I almost missed my train from Shanghai Hongqiao last summer, August 2024. What a mess!

I had booked my ticket online, right? Figured it would be easy. WRONG.

Got to the station, bustling, you know? Like, a freakin’ ant colony. So many people!

I’m trying to find the ticket counters. Looked EVERYWHERE. Finally see a sign, “Foreigner Ticket Collection”.

It’s a HUGE line! My train’s leaving in like, 20 minutes. Panic. Oh my God!

I get to the front, show my passport (the one I used to book online, important!).

Also had the pickup number, that’s key too. I learned that the hard way, yeah?

The lady at the counter, didn’t smile even once. Took my stuff, typed away forever. Seemed like it.

Then FINALLY, she hands me the ticket. I think it was a CRH high-speed train. Relief washed over me. I ran! I actually ran.

Made it with, like, two minutes to spare. Never again will I wait until the last minute to get that ticket.

So, lessons learned, right?

• Book in advance! Like, way in advance, not just online.
• Get to the station early! Seriously, early is your best friend.
• Have your passport ready! The one you used to book!
• Find the right counter! “Foreigner Ticket Collection” or something similar.
• The pickup number is essential! Don’t lose it!

I also heard some people use the automated machines, but those didn’t work with my passport. Ugh! Some have a manual passport scanning option now, some dont.

I really loved China but that trip to Hongqiao made me realize I just hate train stations, lol.

How much do high speed trains cost in China?

Okay, so, China’s high-speed trains, huh? Buckle up, buttercup, it’s a ride.

Think of it like this: Regular train, Beijing to Shanghai, soft sleeper? About CNY 500. That’s like, what, 75 bucks American? Not bad, not bad at all. Less than a fancy haircut! But prepare for a long haul. My Aunt Mildred’s heard horror stories.

Now, the high-speed whizz-bangs. A second-class seat, Beijing to Shanghai? You’re looking at around CNY 550. Slightly more than the soft sleeper, but hey, time is money, right? Faster than a greased piglet, I hear.

Let’s break this train down, shall we?

• Soft Sleeper (Regular Train): CNY 500. Slow and steady wins… eventually gets to Shanghai.
• Second Class (High-Speed): CNY 550. Speedy Gonzales, but maybe a bit cramped.
• First Class (High-Speed): Bump that up! Expect to pay maybe CNY 900. More legroom? Probably!
• Business Class (High-Speed): Oh, now you’re talkin’. Think airplane prices. Easily CNY 1750. Like riding a rocket… if rockets served lukewarm tea.

Don’t forget, prices change like my grandma’s mood. They can depend on:

• The season. Golden Week? Forget about it.
• How early you book. Last minute? Ka-ching!
• The specific train. Some are fancier than others.
• The website you use. Ctrip is my go to.

Oh, and always double-check! Prices are fluid. Like mercury, but with less poison, hopefully. Also always carry snacks, even if they do serve food. The food can be interesting… VERY interesting.