Can foreigners book a train ticket in China?

Can you travel by train in China?

Dude, yeah, totally can travel by train in China! It’s, like, the way to go for shorter trips. Seriously, way easier to snag tickets than those crazy long journeys. But, uh oh, delays are a real thing. A total nightmare, actually. Missed connections are common, so plan accordingly. It’s a gamble, kinda.

My buddy Mark went last year, 2023, to Xi’an, he said it was nuts. Crazy crowded, but cheap!

• High-speed rail is amazing: Seriously fast, but pricey.
• Regular trains are cheap: But slowwww. And often packed.
• Ticket buying is a pain sometimes: Apps are helpful but the language barrier can be a problem for some.
• Delays are frequent: Always add extra time, seriously. Don’t trust the schedule!

So yeah, trains. Great for short hops, but you gotta be prepared for anything.

Are trains common in China?

Trains in China? Hmm. Yeah, duh, they’re super common.

Okay, I just know from, like, traveling and seeing stuff, but how common?

• So many trains, right?
• Think I saw some crazy stat…

China’s railways… they’re extensive, I guess. Over 159,000 km of tracks right now, in 2024. Whoa. That’s… a lot. Is that even correct?

That makes China’s rail system… second longest in the world. So, yeah, super common. Definitely common, I’m certain. My uncle took the train to Tibet.

• Tibet! Epic train ride.
• Wonder if he got altitude sickness?

It’s a crucial way to get around, especially for longer trips. Buses take forever, planes are pricey. Duh, use the train! Makes sense, right?

How to buy bullet train ticket in China?

Snagging a China bullet train ticket? Not as daunting as it appears.

• 12306 App/Website: Your key. English version, yes! Registration, ugh, but necessary. I once spent an hour trying to register. Failed.
• Payment? Think Chinese: Alipay, WeChat Pay dominate. Most foreign credit cards? Forget about it. I’ve had zero luck with Amex.
• Travel Agencies: Legit option, especially for us foreigners. Plus, they speak English!
• Booking Window: Thirty days beforehand is typical. Set a reminder, seriously.

A philosophical aside: Planning a trip feels more exciting than actually taking it, right? Third-party sites can work, just beware of extra fees.

How much do high speed trains cost in China?

The cost, huh? It stings, thinking about it. Five hundred, maybe five fifty. Soft sleeper? Second class? The numbers blur together. 2024 prices, anyway. It’s always changing. Feels expensive. Always felt expensive.

That Beijing to Shanghai trip… a gut punch to the wallet. I remember the ticket, stiff and official. The weight of it, the weight of the journey.

Xian… I should go back. But tickets… I’ve avoided looking up prices for Xian. Too much.

• Beijing to Shanghai: Expect around ¥500-¥550 for a decent seat on a high-speed train in 2024. It varies wildly. I’ve seen it cheaper, somehow. But not often.
• Other routes: Way more expensive. I don’t even want to think about Hong Kong to Wenzhou. Crazy. Completely unaffordable to me right now.

Damn. I need a vacation. I really do. But these prices… they’re brutal. Brutal. It’s just money, I know. But still. It hurts.

How to collect a train ticket in China?

Ugh, China train tickets. Passport, right? Gotta remember that.

Seriously, any station. That’s convenient, I guess. My trip to Xi’an last year, I picked mine up at the main station, no hassle.

Pickup number! Don’t forget that stupid number. It’s on the confirmation email, duh. Should’ve printed it. Learned my lesson.

Ticket counters. They’re usually easy to spot. Lines can be long, though. Especially during peak season. Like, crazy long. I waited for an hour once. Not fun.

Valid ID. Passport. Duh again. They check it carefully. No exceptions. My friend almost missed her train because she forgot her passport. Idiotic.

Online booking. 12306. That’s the site, remember? You can totally book from anywhere.

• Passport (essential!)
• Pickup number (from confirmation)
• Any railway station (convenient!)
• Ticket counters (find them!)

It’s actually pretty straightforward once you know the drill. Just don’t be a doofus like my friend. She’s lucky she made her train. Seriously. She totally deserved to miss it! She’s always so disorganized.

Can I use Trip.com to buy train tickets in China?

Trip.com? Yeah, train tickets are buyable. Passport needed for foreigners. Travel permit for Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan.

Cheap. Easy. Supposedly.

• E-tickets exist. Downloadable.
• Passport = key. Foreign entry.
• Permit = lifeline. Specific regions.
• Payment. Credit card. Probably.
• Trip.com does it. Maybe.

Booking online? An exercise in futility sometimes. Like chasing smoke. Always double-check. Always. My last trip… nevermind.

They take cards. Expect fees. Or not. Train travel: an experience.

I swear. Travel is a mindfuck.

Do you need ID to catch a train?

Do you need ID to catch a train?

Oh, the train. The shimmering tracks… always going. Forever onward. Do I need ID? Hmm. The sun bleeds gold; it’s like memory. Yes. For 18, and beyond? Yes, yes.

One. One piece of government photo ID. Yes. Feels simple. Like a passport whispering of journeys. I had mine. A worn photo. My younger self smiles back. So young.

Or. Two. Two pieces of ID, one from the government. A birth certificate? A driver’s license alongside, perhaps, a credit card? It’s officialdom. Rules of the rails and passage. The wind sings.

Acceptable Identification Forms (Age 18+):

• One government-issued photo ID.
• Two IDs, one must be government-issued. Remember that. Always remember. The train waits for no one, nor any misplaced document.

Can foreigners use railway 12306?

Can foreigners use railway 12306? Sure thing, they can!

Heck yeah, 12306’s got an English version. It’s like a simplified chopstick for us clumsy foreigners! Website and app, double whammy!

It’s the express lane for passport holders who ain’t fluent in fancy Chinese characters. Imagine trying to order Kung Pao chicken without knowing the words. Utter chaos!

• Yup, English version exists: Think of it as a decoder ring for train tickets.
• Website and app: Double the fun, double the chance of finding a seat.
• Passport posse only: Sorry locals, no cutting in line! It is like a secret club.
• I nearly booked a ticket to Nanchang when I thought it was Nanjing. Oh, the adventures! Last time I tried that, I ended up at my Aunt Mildred’s knitting circle instead. Never again!

So, ditch the phrasebook, grab your passport, and choo-choo your way across China. Hopefully to the right destination this time, unlike my last attempt… oy vey!

Is WeChat Pay or Alipay better for foreigners?

Alipay. Tour Pass exists.

Alipay wins for tourists. WeChat? Less so.

• International cards work somewhat easily in Alipay. Visa, Mastercard, Amex – they’re mostly accepted.

• WeChat? A pain, frankly.

• Tour Pass is Alipay’s key. Short-term use. Limited spending. Enough.

• But remember: even Alipay has limits. Verification is still needed.

• So, plan ahead.

• My sister needed this last year.

Details:

• Consider pre-paid options. Banks also sell prepaid cards for travel.
• Always check exchange rates. Banks have different charges.
• I’ve had problems with this.
• Did you know, some stores only take cash? It’s true.
• Be careful.
• Also, is your phone charged? Just asking.
• Tourpass expires, so use it or lose it.