How to Take a Train in China – 8 Steps

As a beginner, you may wonder how to take a China train. Here are the 8 steps to show you how to travel by train in China.
1. Arrive at the railway station at least 30 minutes in advance
2. At the entrance, get passport, ticket check and security check.
3. Find the right waiting room and wait for boarding check.
4. Get boarding check and go to the right platform.
5. Go to the right car and get onboard.
6. Locate your seat and settle your luggage.
7. Sit down to enjoy your China train travel.
8. After arriving, follow the signs to get out.

The following is the detailed information on how to take a train in China step by step.

Step 1: Arrive at the railway station at least 30 minutes in advance

Read your train ticket carefully to find the departure station and departure time. If you are quite familiar with the inner structure of your departure station and the way from your hotel to the railway station, you can get there 30 minutes earlier.

However, if your hotel is far away from the departure station and you are a first-time China train traveler, you are suggested to learn your way from where you stay to the station very well. Count in the time wasted in traffic congestion, especially in holidays such as Chinese New Year, National Holiday and Labor’s Day. You’d better get there an hour earlier for the boarding process, especially when you are going to pick up the paper ticket upon arrival.

Step 2: At the entrance, go through ticket check and security check with your ID certificate in hand.

When you get to the railway station, you need to find the entrance to the station first. You can either follow the signs or just follow your fellow passengers. After getting to the entrance, you need to line for the ticket and security checking. The ticket check requires your ID certificate used to buy the ticket.

Step 3: Locate the right waiting room and wait for boarding check.

When getting inside, you can find a LED screen to show the train number and its corresponding waiting room. Spot where you should wait for the train. After getting in the waiting room, you can find a seat to rest yourself. Ticket checking usually starts 30 minutes before the train’s scheduled departure time, so pay attention to the time of boarding checking.

Step 4: Get boarding check and go to the right platform.

When other passengers begin to line up for boarding checking, you should do the same too. After, follow the signs to the right platform.

Step 5: Find the right car and get onboard.

When you get to the platform, you may find two trains on both sides. Locate your train through the LED screen and then find your carriage. The carriage number can be found in your train ticket.

Step 6: Locate your seat and settle your luggage.

When you get onboard, you should locate your seat or sleeper first and then put your luggage on the luggage rack or in the luggage closet.

Step 7: Sit down to enjoy your China train travel.

When everything is settled, you can just sit down to relax yourself. Remember to keep your ticket well. The attendant may check it during the trip and the staff in the arrival station also need to check it. If you are in the sleeper cabin, the attendant may ask you to hand in your train ticket, giving you a sleeper card in return and when you get to the arrival station, the attendant will give back your train ticket.

Step 8: After arriving, follow the signs to get out.

In most circumstances, passengers need to get out the railway station through underground passageway. Follow the direction board to find where to take subway, taxi or city bus. If you are not sure where to get out, you can just follow others.

How to Transfer to another Train

For passengers who need to transfer to another train, here is the thing you need to pay attention to. When you get off at the intermediate station, you just need to follow the transfer board to get to the waiting room directly. With the connecting ticketing in your hand, you don’t need to get out the railway station and reenter to waste the time.