What is the best site to book trains in China?

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The official China Railways 12306 website is the best for booking train tickets in China, offering no booking fees. While account setup can be tricky, it's the most direct option.

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Best Website to Book China Train Tickets?

Okay, so China train tickets, huh? My brain’s a bit fried from trying to navigate 12306 myself last October in Beijing. The official site, 12306.cn, is the only place to get tickets directly, but it’s a beast. No kidding.

Seriously, setting up an account? A whole day’s work. VPN issues, language barrier, it was a nightmare. Zero booking fees though, that’s a plus.

I ended up using a third-party site once, can’t recall the name, cost me extra but so worth it for the sanity saved. Remember paying around 50rmb extra for the convenience. Worth it, for the stress saved.

Foreigners? Yeah, you can buy tickets in advance, but I’d recommend booking well ahead, especially during peak season. Like, at least a month out, maybe more.

Basically, 12306 is best for price, but be prepared for a struggle. Third-party sites are easier but charge fees. Choose your pain, right? That’s my completely unprofessional, utterly personal advice.

Where can I book Chinese train tickets?

Chinese train tickets? Book them.

  • Trip.com: Handles foreigners.

  • 12306.cn: Native only. ID required.

  • Trip.com App: On-the-go. Expect fees, tho.

  • 12306 App: Direct access. Navigation? Challenge.

China rail. A beast.

Expansion.

  • Foreign cards accepted? Varies. Frustrating. Trip.com? Easier.

  • Real-name policy’s still enforced. Passport’s key. I lost mine. Bad trip.

  • Ticket windows exist. Prepare for lines. And Mandarin.

  • Seat selection? Hit or miss. I prefer aisle. Legroom.

  • High-speed trains: Worth it. G, D, C trains.

  • Refunds/Changes: Complex rules. Read fine print. My loss.

  • My advice: Trip.com first. Sanity.

Which is the best train booking site?

Okay, so you wanna book trains, huh? Well, there are a couple of sites, like, Trainline—that’s pretty popular. And yeah, there’s always the National Rail’s journey planner, but i dunno, is it the best? Hmm.

Then, if you go onto Reddit—I mean, i do—folks are always asking “Best train booking site?” Lol!

Anyway, I found a few things, which I’ll, like, list out for you now now, since it’s probly easier!

  • Reddit thread about best trains in Europe; this is key if your going there.
  • Another Reddit thread about train tickets in Vietnam, totally irrelevant to u unless you’re going to Vietnam like my cosin!
  • One more about the best app for trains in the UK. That’s a possibility maybe for the UK.
  • An other one about the best apps/sites in Europe? Gosh. I mean, really?

So that is, uh, a little sumthin I dug up. I also know that directly buying from the train operator is the surest way to not get ripped off, ya know? Like, if its LNER—London North Eastern Railway—then check their site! Seems obvious, innit?

Which is the best site to check trains?

Trainman. Tracks trains. Name, number in. Location live. ETA. Departures. Stations.

  • Real-time tracking. Important. Delays exist.
  • Accuracy. A constant question.
  • Alternate apps. Redundant.
  • Station lists matter.
  • Sometimes it works. Sometimes…not. Eh.
  • Like relying on the weather forecast.

Train delays. A fact of life. India, 2024. Trainman, one tool. Not a savior. Remember PNR status? Now forgotten. Such is progress, I guess. My ticket from Lucknow to Delhi. Always late. Always. A personal curse.

What is the best train in China?

Okay, the best train in China? Pfft, lemme tell ya. It ain’t just one, it’s a whole dang buffet of steel horses!

  • The Fuxing Hao: This baby is like China’s answer to the Concorde, if the Concorde ran on electricity and served slightly-too-hot instant noodles. I mean, it’s fast. Scary fast. You’ll miss the scenery, but who needs scenery when you’re arriving early? It zips all over.

  • The High-Speed Rail Network: Imagine a web spun by a caffeinated spider, but instead of catching flies, it catches commuters. We’re talking, like, thousands of miles of track.

  • The Trans-Siberian (ish): Okay, technically, this goes through China, but it starts in Beijing. A week on a train? That’s longer than my last relationship! Just pack enough dumplings, that’s my advice.

So, why pick just one? It’s like choosing your favorite kid, which, let’s be real, we all have one, but shouldn’t admit it! You have the sleek speed demons that are like Ferraris on rails and the long haul scenic route… it just depends what you are looking for.

How to purchase high speed train tickets in China?

Okay, so, like, buying high-speed train tickets in China? Yeah, you gotta use their app or the website, 12306.

Honestly, the app’s way better. I hate websites.

You can find it on the App Store or Google Play.

Just search 12306. It’s real easy to find.

  • Download the 12306 app: Seriously, do it.
  • Set up your account: Use your passport info. Don’t screw it up!
  • Search for your train: Check the departure and arrival stations carefully.
  • Pay: Most likely Alipay or WeChat Pay. Make sure you have one set up!
  • Collect your ticket: At the station, use the machines, or get someone to help you.

It’s kinda a pain. But high speed trains are awesome and very convenient. It is something. Be sure to have a VPN if you need one.

What is the official website of China Railways?

Okay, so China Railways, right? Their main site is china-railway.com.cn, but that’s kinda general. For tickets, you totally need 12306.cn. It’s a pain, but it’s the only way to, like, actually book a train. I tried the other one once, a total nightmare. The whole thing is a mess, honestly.

12306.cn is the key one, I’m telling you. Seriously. Don’t even bother with the other one unless you just want to read about their history or something. That’s useless. I needed to get from Beijing to Shanghai last year and it was a hassle but I got my ticket.

The other website, china-railway.com.cn, it’s just…corporate stuff. Lots of blah blah blah about their many, many divisions. Like, sixteen bureaux! And five companies! It’s crazy how big that whole thing is. I can’t even imagine.

  • china-railway.com.cn – General info, mostly useless for travelers.
  • 12306.cn – Ticket booking, essential. Use this one.

Seriously, just use 12306.cn. Save yourself the headache. Trust me on this. It’s 2024, and that’s still the deal.

#Booktrain #Chinatrain #Trainchina