Beijing Train Ticket Booking

Beijing, the thriving capital of China, stands as a pivotal nexus in the country's extensive railway network. A multitude of trains embark on journeys or conclude their routes at seven prominent railway stations strategically positioned throughout the city. These stations include Beijing South, Beijing North, Beijing West, Beijing Railway Station, Beijing Chaoyang, Beijing East, and Beijing Daxing. This extensive railway infrastructure seamlessly connects Beijing with numerous major cities across China, facilitating convenient travel to destinations like Shanghai, Tianjin, Wuhan, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Shenyang, and Pingyao.

China Train Types

China's first railway was built in 1876, and, after a period of rapid development, its railway network is now keeping pace with international standards, with plenty of future development opportunities.

In China, train numbers are usually indicated with Arabic numerals, and trains of the two different directions on the same route are distinguished by consecutive odd and even numbers.

The capital letter of the train identifies the train type. It is designated according to the speed and the number of stops of the service.

G Trains - High Speed Train

The first high-speed train service in China, officially simply called CRH (Chinese Railway High Speed trains), ran on December 26, 2009, between Wuhan and Guangzhou. The maximum operating speed is up to 350 km/h.

The latest generation CRH is recognized as the fastest commercially operating train in the world, as well as having the highest technology and the most advanced system. The high-speed train was designed to meet the latest requirements for long-distance travel, with a large capacity and a short travel time.

The layout of the high-speed train interior is luxurious, equipped with facilities for work, and spacious and comfortable seats. The trains have vibration-damping to cut off noise from the high-speed operation, so they are very quiet. Taking a high-speed train is convenient and offers the most pleasant journey on China's rail network.

D Trains - High Speed Bullet Trains

High-speed Bullet Trains are a new type of train that first operated on April 18, 2007. The earlier generation CRH has a maximum running speed of 200-250 km/h.

The high-speed bullet train has fully computerized controls. The train seats are classified into first class and second class. The first-class seat arrangement is two seats on either side of the aisle. The second class arrangement is three seats on one side of the aisle and two on the other.

Seats can be reclined and have a collapsible coffee table attached to the seat in front. The air conditioning and all doors are automatic. Some CRH trains provide soft sleeper carriages for long-distance trips.

Z Trains - Direct Express

The Direct Express train first ran on April 18, 2004, when it was the second fastest train in China (160 km/h or 99 mph). Most direct express trains don't stop during the trip, but some stop at major stations. Most direct express carriages are soft seat, and some trains have hard/soft sleeper and hard seat cabins available.

Nowadays, China has more than a hundred direct express trains serving major cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, Wuhan, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, and Ningbo. The train’s interior is kept spotless, and crew service is outstanding, but the ticket price of the direct express is lower than that of high-speed trains and similar to ordinary express trains.

T Trains - Express Trains

T trains run at 140 km/h or 87 mph, and generally only stop at major cities. They are fully air-conditioned, and all types of seats (soft/hard) and sleeper cabins (soft/hard) are available.

K Trains - Fast Trains

K trains operate at a fastest speed of 120 km/h or 75 mph. Fast trains generally stop at all major stations. More than 95% of the trains are equipped with air-conditioning. Soft/hard seats and soft/hard sleepers are available. The ticket fare is lower than the above trains, so have lower expectations of the facilities and service of the train.

L Trains - Temporary Train

Temporary trains are a special type of train generally only operating at the busiest of times for extra railway capacity: the Spring Festival, the winter and summer holidays for students, and the National Day holiday.

They generally stop at major cities and some county towns. The running speed is the same as an ordinary express train: 120 km/h (75 mph). Many temporary trains are not air-conditioned.

L train passengers are mostly those returning home or going to the cities as migrant workers (especially around the Spring Festival) or low-income people, and therefore also known as "labor” trains.

Train Seats for High-speed Trains

For high-speed trains, there are second-class seats, first-class seats, and business seats.

Second Class Seat

These are available in high-speed trains: D trains (Dongche) and G trains (Gaotie). Five seats per row, the second-class seat is not as spacious as the first-class seat, but still very comfortable. Smoking is not allowed.

First Class Seat

First-class seats are available in high-speed trains: D trains (Dongche) and G trains (Gaotie). First class seats are designed to be as spacious as an airplane seat and comfortable, arranged four seats per row. There is better air quality in the carriages. Each seat has a power outlet for passenger use.

Business Seat

Passengers only need to touch a button and the seat will slowly recline to horizontal, and change into a small bed. The seat armrest has a folding LED TV and a coffee table with a reading light. The ticket price of Business seats is the highest among all train seats.

Business seats are only available in G trains (Gaotie). Each carriage has 24 airplane-style first-class reclining seats. The sense of comfort and safety is much better than that of first-class seats on an airplane.

Train Seats for Normal-speed Trains

For regular-speed trains, there are hard seats, hard sleepers, and soft sleepers

Hard Seat

Traditionally, the hard seat was a long bench for two or three persons on either side of the aisle. Now, hard seats are padded and more comfortable, but still cramped. Short distances can be endured, but they are very uncomfortable for long-distance trips. Because of its low price, the hard seats are popular among low-income travelers, especially migrant workers.

"No seat" tickets are also available during peak periods such as Chinese New Year, which allow passengers to stand in the hard seat carriages, leading to a very crowded environment.

Hard seat tickets are not recommended when you travel by train.

Hard Sleeper

It is the ideal choice for overnight or long-distance train travel. A hard sleeper carriage has several open berths along a corridor. Each compartment has six bunks, three bunks on either side of a small table by the window. Tickets are sold as upper, middle, or lower bunks. Prices vary according to the different types of bunks.

The hard sleeper is equipped with a bed sheet, quilt, and pillow per bunk, and the cars are equipped with carpet, curtains in the windows, table cloth, and hot water available 24 hours. Air conditioning is provided, and the washroom is tolerably clean. Smoking is not allowed in the carriages, but there is a smoking area in the corridor between carriages.

Soft Sleeper

Generally, soft sleeper carriages have nine rooms (some have eight rooms) along a corridor. Each room has two upper bunks and two lower bunks. The beds are wider than hard sleeper beds and more comfortable. Each room has a sliding door.

Each bunk has a small reading lamp. There are buttons for adjusting the radio and volume on the side of the door. There are two toilets per car, one Western-style, the other squat-style, with toilet paper. Besides the items that a hard sleeper has, the soft sleeper is also equipped with clothes hangers, slippers, a clothes brush, a hot water flask, and porcelain tea cups. It is highly recommended for comfort on long journeys by train.

Railway Station in Beijing

As the capital of China, Beijing is the railway hub of the country. There are five train stations in Beijing: Beijing Railway Station, Beijing West Railway Station, Beijing South Railway Station, Beijing North Railway Station, and Beijing East Railway Station.

Trains leaving for most cities of China depart from the main stations, which are Beijing Railway Station, Beijing West Railway Station, and Beijing South Railway Station. Beijing North Station is mainly used as a local station.

Beijing Railway Station

Built in 1959, Beijing Railway Station is the largest station in China, and it has trains to Moscow, Pyongyang, and Ulan Bator, and most cities in China.

How to get there: take bus 9, 673, Special 2, or 52 to North Square. Alternatively can take the Subway Line 1 and get off at Fuxingmen or Line 2 to Beijing Railway Station

Beijing West Railway Station

Operating since 1996, Beijing West is one of three major railway stations in Beijing. Beijing West Railway Station has nine platforms with services to major cities of the southwest, northwest, and southern regions of China, such as Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Wuhan, Chengdu, Chongqing, Taiyuan, Fuzhou, Xiamen, Guilin, Nanning, Xining, Jinan, and Urumqi. In 2007, the station began to serve trains to Tibet, and the whole journey required 48 hours.

Beijing West Station has two plazas: North Square and South Square. The entrance and major ticket offices are in North Square. Passengers need to go underground to get taxis.

Address: East Lianhuachi Road, Fengtai District

Transportation: Take bus 1, 6, 40, 42, 46, 50, 109, 323, 324, 339, or 340.

Beijing South Railway Station (Yongdingmen Station)

The station was finished in 2008 and serves intercity and high-speed trains to Tianjin, Shanghai, and Xi’an. It is on city subway lines 4 and 14.

Transportation: Take bus 72, 122, 53, or 741.

Beijing North Railway Station

First built in 1988 and rebuilt in 2009, Beijing North Station serves neighboring provinces such as Hebei province and Inner Mongolia.

Address: Xizhimen, Beijing

Transportation: Take bus 104, 105, 106, or 205.

Beijing Train Station Private Transfers

We offer Beijing Train Station Private Transfers with a Private Guide and a Van. The guide will meet you at the train station platform with your name signboard on your arrival. The guide will stand in a place where she/he can be easily located and seen as you come through the arrival gate.

How to Board the Train?

Step 1: Make sure you get to the correct station

In some cities, there are 2 or several train stations, which are distant from each other. Before you start, please make sure from which station you are going to board the train. If you get to the wrong station, you probably won’t have enough time to catch the train. It is suggested that you get to the train station at least 30 minutes before the train departs, if during peak seasons, 1 hour ahead of time is better.

Step 2: Pass security control

When you arrive at the station, you first need to go through the security control at the entrance. Please put your luggage through the X-ray machine and fetch it on the other side. Animals, knives, flammable, toxic and explosive goods are forbidden on the train.

Step 3: Find the correct waiting lounge

The electronic message board will show the correct waiting lounge for each train. You will easily find which one is your waiting lounge as long as you know your train number and departure time. Or you can ask the staff for help. Tickets will be checked when you enter the lounge, so you can be sure you are in the correct lounge. A separate waiting lounge is available in the railway stations for passengers traveling in the soft sleeper section. Preferential boarding is available for those passengers.

Step 4: Go to the platform

About 10 minutes before the train departs (30 minutes if you are departing from the train’s starting station), the announcements of check-in will be broadcast, and the conductor will direct passengers to the appropriate track to check in and go to the platform.

Step 5: Board the train

You can easily find your carriage because the numbers are marked clearly on the carriage. A train attendant waits at the door of each carriage and checks the tickets. After you board the train, find your seat or bunk, and put your luggage in place. Please keep an eye on your belongings, and always keep your valuables securely close to you.

Notes for passengers

• Please make sure beforehand from which station you are going to board the train, and arrive at the correct station at least 1/2 - 1 hour ahead of the departure time.
• Baggage Allowance: Each child will be allowed to take 10 kg (22 pounds) of baggage for free, and 20 kg (44 pounds) is allowed for an adult passenger.
• At hard or soft sleeper class carriages, shortly after the train departs, a train attendant will walk through the carriages to collect tickets. He/she will give you a plastic card. Please keep the card because you are required to present the card about half an hour before reaching your destination, when you will get your ticket back. The ticket will also be checked when you go through the exit of the train station.
• During stopovers along the journey, if you decide to get out and breathe some fresh air, it is advised that you do not wander far away from the train, in case it leaves before you get back.
• English is not spoken by the railway staff. Limited English signs are available at railway stations. If possible, please get a phrase book in case of emergency. More and more people, especially the younger generations, can speak some English; you can ask them for help.
• Most trains have dining cars serving passable Chinese-style food, and they are usually located in the 7th, 8th, 9th, or 10th carriage, depending on different trains. The railway staff also walk by regularly with pushcarts selling boxed lunches, instant noodles, soft drinks, snacks, and so on.
• The washroom is usually located at the end of each car. The washroom is locked when the train is approaching one stop, and it opens when the train runs again. Please bring your toilet paper since it’s not available inside.
• Baggage space is limited and must be stored in your compartment, so it is wise to travel with small baggage rather than large baggage. In most stations, you will need to climb up or down a considerable number of stairs, with a steep ramp, before you reach the platform. It is advisable to bring baggage with wheels.
• Pickpockets are ubiquitous at train stations or on the train. Please keep your baggage and valuables safe, and never leave them unattended.
• Please check and take all your belongings with you when you get off the train. If you leave anything behind, it is probably impossible to trace back.
• Train staff speak little English, but railway station announcements often provide English translations when the train is ready to board.
• A separate waiting lounge is available in railway stations for passengers with soft sleeper tickets. Preferential boarding is available for those passengers.
• The baggage space on trains is limited, and your luggage must be stored in your compartment, so it is wise to keep luggage volume down.
• In most stations, you will need to climb up and down a considerable number of stairs, but each station has a ramp on each side for wheeling luggage. Consider bringing baggage with wheels.
• Please don’t forget to bring toilet paper, since it is not available in the washrooms.
• Pickpockets operate at train stations and on trains, so please keep your baggage and valuables safe.