Real train schedules
Timetable and seat options are checked against real China Railway availability.
China Train Travel
Custom Rail Tours & Train Tickets
Featured journeys
Ask for a custom route →
Well-planned China rail trips
Hand-picked itineraries that pair real rail timing with the sights, hotels, and local days around each city.
3-Day Imperial Beijing Tour: Forbidden City, Great Wall & Hutong
Forbidden City, Great Wall, Hutong rickshaw ride, Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace
From $429
7-Day Beijing & Xi'an Highlights Tour by Bullet Train
Two ancient capitals connected by bullet train — imperial palaces, the Great Wall, Terr…
From $998
3-Day Xi'an Culture & History Tour
Terracotta Warriors, City Wall cycling, hidden mosques, and lamb soup in back-alley Mus…
From $351
Why travelers trust us
China rail travel, handled clearly in English
China Train Travel helps international visitors book high-speed and sleeper train tickets, choose sensible routes, and travel with human support when plans get complicated.
Passport-friendly help
We guide names, documents, seats, and station choices for overseas travelers.
Human support
If direct trains sell out, we look for transfer routes and practical alternatives.
1. Send the route
Search tickets or tell us the cities and dates.
2. We check the practical details
Train times, passport names, station choice, and transfer risk.
3. Travel with your passport
Use the same passport for station entry, security, and boarding.
Why Travel China by High-Speed Rail
China's high-speed rail is often the easiest way to link major cities, scenic regions, and classic first-time itineraries without domestic flights.
50,000+
km of high-speed track
More than the rest of the world combined
350
km/h top speed
Beijing to Shanghai in 4.5 hours
2,800+
stations nationwide
Covering 31 of 34 provinces
95%+
on-time reliability
High-speed rail is highly punctual on classic routes.
Sources: official China Railway timetable data, China State Railway Group public information, and China Train Travel booking data. Last updated: .
City center to city center
High-speed rail stations are in or near downtown — not 40 km away like airports. No $28 taxi ride, no 2-hour airport bus. Step off the train and you're already in the city.
The scenery is the journey
Watch rice paddies, karst mountains, river valleys, and megacities roll past your window at 300 km/h. The Beijing–Xi'an route crosses the Yellow River. Chengdu–Chongqing cuts through misty Sichuan hills. You don't get that at 35,000 feet.
Simple station boarding
Arrive about 30 minutes before departure, pass a quick bag scan, and board with the passport used for booking.
Good value on classic routes
For many routes under 1,000 km, trains are often cheaper and faster door-to-door than flying.
Rail-friendly cities
Destinations worth building a route around
Use these recommended city guides as anchors, then connect them by high-speed train.
Connect these cities →
Popular China Train Routes
These are the routes foreign travelers book most often. Many combine 2 or 3 of these into a multi-city China rail trip.
Beijing → Shanghai
4h18m fastest53 daily
Beijing to Shanghai by high-speed train. 4h18m on the fastest service. 53 departures daily.
From $45 Beijing to Shanghai schedules →Beijing → Guangzhou
7h17m fastest12 daily
Beijing to Guangzhou by high-speed train. 7h17m on the fastest service. 12 departures daily.
From $46 Beijing to Guangzhou schedules →Chengdu → Chongqing
1h2m fastest143 daily
Chengdu to Chongqing by high-speed train. 1h2m on the fastest service. 143 departures daily.
From $8 Chengdu to Chongqing schedules →Xian → Shanghai
5h50m fastest37 daily
Xian to Shanghai by high-speed train. 5h50m on the fastest service. 37 departures daily.
From $33 Xian to Shanghai schedules →Beijing → Xiamen
10h40m fastest6 daily
Beijing to Xiamen by high-speed train. 10h40m on the fastest service. 6 departures daily.
From $60 Beijing to Xiamen schedules →Beijing → Jinan
1h22m fastest125 daily
Beijing to Jinan by high-speed train. 1h22m on the fastest service. 125 departures daily.
From $19 Beijing to Jinan schedules →Changsha → Zhangjiajie
1h45m fastest56 daily
Changsha to Zhangjiajie by high-speed train. 1h45m on the fastest service. 56 departures daily.
From $19 Changsha to Zhangjiajie schedules →Shanghai → Hangzhou
45m fastest259 daily
Shanghai to Hangzhou by high-speed train. 45m on the fastest service. 259 departures daily.
From $4 Shanghai to Hangzhou schedules →Travel Tips & Guides
Practical knowledge for first-time train travelers in China — written by our local team.
View all tips →
China Train Seat Types Explained — Your Complete Guide
A practical guide to every seat and sleeper class on Chinese trains — from second class on bullet trains to soft sleeper on overnight K-trains. Real prices, honest recommendations, and seat map codes explained.
How to Board a Train in China — A Step-by-Step Station Guide
Everything foreign travelers need to know about Chinese train stations: arrival timing, security screening, ticket gates, boarding, and exit. Covers business class, families with babies, and passengers with disabilities.
China Train Luggage Rules — What You Can (and Can't) Bring
Size limits, weight allowances, prohibited items, and where to store your bags on Chinese trains. Practical advice for travelers with large suitcases, bikes, strollers, and sports equipment.
China Train Travel & Tickets: Quick Answers
Quick answers for foreign travelers comparing China train tickets, high-speed rail routes, and custom rail-based China tours.
Can foreigners book China train tickets online with China Train Travel?
Yes. Foreign travelers can book China train tickets online with China Train Travel using passport details. Tickets are issued electronically, and passengers usually board with the same physical passport used for booking.
What information do I need to book China train tickets?
For most China train tickets, you need each passenger's full name exactly as shown on the passport, passport number, nationality, and date of birth. The passport is also used for station entry, security checks, and boarding. We also support passport scanning from your phone — just snap a photo and we'll extract the details automatically, saving time and reducing errors.
How early can I book China train tickets?
China train tickets are usually released about 15 days before departure. You can send your request earlier on China Train Travel; if tickets are not released yet, we note the request and try to secure seats when booking opens.
Which China train routes are best for first-time travelers?
Popular first-time China train routes include Beijing to Shanghai, Beijing to Xi'an, Xi'an to Chengdu, Shanghai to Hangzhou, and Guangzhou to Guilin. These routes connect major sights with reliable high-speed rail service.
Can China Train Travel help with train tours, not just train tickets?
Yes. China Train Travel can help with point-to-point Train Tickets and custom China train tours, including route planning, city order, hotel-friendly timing, and practical advice for rail-based trips across China.
Is China high-speed rail better than flying for China travel?
For many China travel routes under 1,000 km, high-speed rail can be faster door-to-door because train stations are usually closer to city centers and boarding takes less time than airport check-in.