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China train travel guide
To take a train in China for a city is easy. China has the most advanced train system in the world, but it also has the most people taking trains. Before you decide to take train travel in China, you should better have some knowledge about China trains, how to get on train, where to buy train tickets, how to get to train station etc.

China Train types
China trains are divided into 4 different types: Train number with none English letter means slow trains. T/K trains represent fast trains, Z trains for direct line between two cities while D trains for China Railway High-speed (CRH), the fastest train in China.
As China rail system has been developing, slow trains become less and less. Instead the high speed trains between different cities are increasing dramatically. The high speed trains running between these big cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Guangzhou and Xian etc, are making train travel easy, convenient and fast.

To buy train ticket
China Train Tickets types
There are mainly 3 types tickets in China trains: seat, sleeper and luxurious cabin.
Seats are divided into Hard seat and Soft seat, Sleepers are composed by hard sleeper and soft sleeper while cabin is the highest standard sleeper in China trains.
Usually China trains run for around 10 hours to finish, so most Chinese people choose to take seat ticket for travel since it is the cheapest, about half of hard sleeper’s price. Hard seat are available at all trains. The hard seat carriage allows people standing inside(for those who only get no-seat ticket), so it is always very crowded especially during festivals.
Solf seat is not available at all trains, but often at the trains with number starting with D, which means China Railway High-speed (CRH).
Hard Sleeper tickets are also very popular with travelers especially for long hour’s journey. For Sleeper carriage, it is divided into several rows and each row has 6 beds for 6 passengers to sleep.  Sleeper carriage usually doesn’t allow passengers of seat carriage to stay or pass through, so it is less crowded, cleaner and more comfortable. For toilet, each carriage has one toilet.
Soft Sleeper are more comfortable than Hard sleeper because the bed is wider and there are only 4 beds in one row for Soft Sleeper carriage.
Luxurious cabin is most comfortable and costs the most too. Two passengers share one cabin, and each cabin is facilitated with 2 comfortable beds, a table, a chair, two TVs and a private toilet. But luxurious cabin is only available on certain trains, such as the train T43 (Beijing to Xian train) and the train T140 (running between Shanghai and Xian) etc. Check out Luxurious cabin of China Trains videos for how it looks like.

Where to buy train tickets
For China train tickets, please check the link China Trains for train timetable, tickets service and train tours. You can buy train tickets from Beijing Impression, or buy from train stations.

When can I book train tickets?
Different trains allow different advance-booking period. For Z and D trains, passengers can book 10 days in advance, for T/K trains, passengers can book tickets 5 days in advance.

How can I return tickets if I don't want it?
If passengers want to return train ticket, they have to go to the TICKET RETRUN BOOTH of any train stations in Beijing. When returning, 20% handling fee will be charged. You can only get 80% refund of the price on ticket.

Get on the train
How long in advance should I be at the train station?
China Train usually allows passengers to check-in 40-60 minutes before departure, and stops check-in 5 minutes before it departs.

Ticket check
When passengers begin to pass through the ticket checking entrance of the waiting room, the ticket staff will check your train ticket to see whether it is the right train, right date, and punch the ticket. After you pass through the passage way and arrive at the right carriage gate, train attendant will check your ticket again and let you in then.
On the train, there will be 2 to 4 times ticket re-check processes, so remember to keep your ticket well.

Get off the train
When train is about to arrive, all passengers begin to prepare to get off. Make sure you have all your belongings with you and get ready for arrival. It is usually quite crowded when people getting off, so just watch out.