Treinreise in China - Rail travel in China

COVID-19 inligting: Die meeste internasionale treine en treine na Hongkong is opgeskort. Treindienste kan ook opgeskort word as gevolg van plaaslike uitbrake. Daar word van u verwag om maskers te dra wanneer u met treine in China reis, selfs al is daar geen besmette gevalle in gebiede waarin u reis nie. gesondheidskodes op mobiele toepassings soos WeChat of Alipay volgens die voorskrifte by u bestemming.

(Inligting laas opgedateer 01 Jan 2021)

Treinreise is die vernaamste metode vir langafstandvervoer vir die Chinese, met 'n uitgebreide netwerk roetes wat die grootste deel van die land dek. Ongeveer 'n kwart van die wêreld se totale spoorverkeer is in Sjina.

Spoorkaart van China (klik om uit te brei)

China het die wêreld se grootste netwerk van hoëspoedspoorweë (soortgelyk aan Franse TGV- of Japanse Shinkansen-koeëltreine), die CRH treine, en uitbreiding gaan voort in 'n woes tempo. Dit is ook die tuiste van die wêreld se enigste hoëspoed slaaptreine as gevolg van die groot afstande wat afgelê word. As u roete en begroting dit toelaat, is dit miskien die beste manier om rond te kom.

Hongkong het 'n spoedstasie met 'n hoë spoed wat in 2018 vir die publiek geopen is. Macau het glad nie 'n spoorverbinding nie, hoewel Zhuhai oor die grens met 'n vinnige lyn verbind is.

Tipes treine en dienste

Chinese treine word verdeel in verskillende soorte dienste wat aangedui word deur letters en syfers wat op die kaartjie aangedui word en die treinnr.

Hoë-spoed treine

Die lettervoorvoegsels op treinnommers dui die tipe trein aan. Van vinnigste tot stadigste, die vinnige treine is:

Twee treine van die G-reeks by die treinstasie van Beijing-Wes

• G-reeks (高速 gāosù) - 300 km / h langspoed-hoëspoed-uitdrukkings - op 'n aantal hoëspoed-hooflyne, insluitend Beijing–Zhengzhou–Wuhan–Guangzhou–Shenzhen, Zhengzhou–Xi'an, Beijing–Nanjing–Sjanghai, Sjanghai–Hangzhou, Nanjing – Hangzhou–Ningbo. Hierdie treine het 'n topsnelheid van 300 km / h (186 mph) deur Hexie Hao (和谐 号) (wit of silwer kleur met blou band) of 350 km / h (217 mph) deur Fuxing Hao (复兴 号) (wit kleur met geel band of silwer kleur met rooi band, CR400AF, CR400BF). Langafstandtreine bedien minder stasies, meestal groot stede.

'N Intercity-trein van Sjanghai-Nanjing by Suzhou-treinstasie

• C (城 际 chéngjì): C-reeks (城 际 chéngjì) - 200-300 km / u kortafstand-snelweguitdrukkings - noemenswaardige voorbeelde sluit dienste in Beijing – Wuqing– inTianjin–Tanggu, Sjanghai-Suid-Jinshanwei, Guangzhou-Shenzhen en Guanzhou-Zhuhai. C-reeksnommers word ook gebruik vir pendeltreine op die Wuhan-Xianning-lyne. Topspoed normaalweg tot 200 km / h, met enkele uitsonderings 300 km / h.

'N D-reeks trein vanaf Harbin na Beijing

'N Trein van die D-reeks vir nie-hoë snelhede.

• D-reeks (动 车 dòngchē) - 200 km / h sneltreine met hoë spoed - Hierdie treine kan die hoogste snelhede van 250 km / h (155 mph) bereik deur Hexie Hao (wit kleur met 'n blou band). Langafstandtreine bedien meer stasies en tussenstede. Sommige D-reekse, veral oornagtreine, kan slegs 'n topsnelheid van 160 km / h (100 mph) bereik deur Fuxing Hao (Emeraldgroen kleur met goue gordel, CR200J), en is nie 'n hoëspoedtrein nie. Sy prys is egter steeds gebaseer op die 250 km / h D-reeks treine.

Alhoewel baie lyne gebou word vir snelhede tot 350 km / h, ry die meeste treine om veiligheids- en koste-redes ongeveer 300 km / h. Lyne gebou volgens 'n standaardlopie van 250 km / h teen 200 km / h. Sedert September 2017 het treine tussen Beijing en Sjanghai tot 350 km / h gery, en meer lyne is geleidelik weer tot hul ontwerpspoed herstel.

Daar is 'n paar G-treine waarvan die roetes lyne bevat wat volgens verskillende standaarde gebou is. In hierdie geval hardloop hulle teen 300 km / h op lyne van 'n hoër standaard, en 250 km / h of 200 km / h op lyne van 'n laer standaard. Die kaartjieprys is ook teen verskillende tariewe in elke deel van die roete volgens die snelheid. Die roete van G-treine vanaf Beijing na Taiyuan sluit die eerste deel vorm van Beijing in tot Shijiazhuang, en die tweede deel van Shijiazhuang na Taiyuan. Die eerste deel is deel van Beijing-Hong Kong High-Speed ​​Railway, en die trein loop teen 'n snelheid van 300 km / h. Die tweede deel van die Shijiazhuang-Taiyuan-spoedspoorweg is egter slegs volgens 'n standaard van 250 km / h gebou, sodat die trein teen 'n laer snelheid ry en die prys per kilometer laer is as die eerste deel. En as u hierdie trein slegs vir die tweede deel neem (byvoorbeeld om op Shijiazhuang te klim en by Taiyuan uit te klim), sal daar geen verskil wees tussen 'n D-trein in snelheid of prys nie.

Konvensionele treine

Vinniger dienste beteken gewoonlik hoër pryse, maar treine van die Z-, T- en K-reeks word op dieselfde basis geprys. Treine met slegs getalle het die laagste prys. Sommige treine slegs en baie min K-treine is nie met lugversorgers toegerus nie, en hul pryse is aansienlik laer.

Voor 2014 was dit moontlik om verskillende soorte treindienste te identifiseer deur die kleur van die passasiersvoertuie in ag te neem. Sedert 2015 is alle passasiersmotors egter groen geverf, wat dit amper onmoontlik maak.

• Z-reeks (直达 zhídá) - Direkte sneltreine, konvensionele snelheid met minder haltes met die topsnelheid ongeveer 160 km / h (100 mph). In die vroeëre Z-reeks is daar nog geen tussenstops nie, terwyl nuwes meer stop. Sommige treine bied slegs slaapplaats aan. Sommige, veral Z-reekse wat tussen groot stede loop, is opgegradeer na 'n nie-vinnige D-reeks trein.
• T-reeks (特快 tèkuài) - 140 km / h-stadstreine ry slegs na groot stede. Soortgelyk aan Z-treine, alhoewel hulle gewoonlik by meer stasies stop.
• K-reeks (快速 kuàisù) - 120 km / h stadiger, goedkoper en stampvol treine met meer stilhouplekke. Die reeks wat die meeste gesien word, besoek meer stasies as 'n T-trein en het meer slaapplekke en sitplekke.
• Algemene vinnige treine (普快 pǔkuài) - 120 km / h-treine, sonder letteraanwysing, vier syfers begin met 1-5. Hierdie treine is die goedkoopste en stadigste langafstandtreine, alhoewel die meeste opgegradeer of gekanselleer word. 'N Vooraanstaande voorbeeld is trein 1461/1462 wat van Beijing na Sjanghai dien.
• Algemene treine (普 客 pǔkè) - 100 km / h kortreinstreine sonder letteraanduiding, vier syfers begin met 5, 6 of 7. Stadigste treine, stop byna oral.
• Pendeltreine (通勤 tōngqín) / Dienstreine (路 用 lùyòng) - vier syfers begin met 8, of vyf syfers begin met 57, stadige plaaslike treine, meestal gebruik deur spoorwegpersoneel. Hulle verkoop gewoonlik nie kaartjies aan passasiers nie.
• L-reeks (临时 línshí) - seisoentreine geskik vir K- of viersyferreeks.
• Y-reeks (旅游 lǚyóu) - treine wat hoofsaaklik toeristegroepe bedien.
• S-reeks (市郊 shìjiāo) - treine ry van / na voorstede rondom groot stede.

Klasse

Hoë-spoed trein klasse

Die CRH-treine het gewoonlik vyf klasse:

• Tweedeklas (二等 座 erdengzuo) (3 2 sitplek uitleg). Sitplekke is 'n bietjie smal, maar daar is genoeg plek vir bene.
• Eersteklas (一等 座 yidengzuo) (2 2 uitleg)
• Drie BBP-klases (2 1-uitleg net agter die bestuurderskajuit):
  • "商务 座" (besigheidsklas). Sitplekke wat heeltemal in 'n bed lê.
  • "观光 座" (besienswaardigheidsklas).
  • "特等 座" (luukse klas).

商务 座 (besigheidsklas) is beter as '一等 座' (eerste klas) op CRH-treine.商务 座 (besigheidsklas) en 观光 座 (besienswaardigheidsklas) kos dieselfde, terwyl 特等 座 gewoonlik duurder is as '一等 座' (eerste klas), maar goedkoper as 商务 座 en 观光 座.

As u minder as twee uur reis, sien u nie regtig veel verskil in die tweede klas nie, alhoewel langer reise in die eerste klas minder vermoeiend sal wees. Groot mense verkies dalk eerste klas omdat die sitplekke merkbaar wyer is.

Tweedeklas: Effens stewiger, maar nie ongemaklike sitplekke in 'n 2 3-uitleg nie. Effens minder ruimte tussen sitplekrye. Dit is meer geneig om staande kaartjiehouers in die paadjies te hê, maar nie soveel of druk soos gewone treine in China nie. Daar is dalk kragstikkers beskikbaar. Voedseltrollies bedien wel hierdie rytuie, maar kom miskien nie so gereeld voor nie. Die verskil tussen die eerste en tweede klas is gering en word weerspieël in die kleiner verskil in kaartjieprys.

Tipiese eerste klas sitplek

Eersteklas: Dit het gemaklike sitplekke in 'n 2 2-uitleg met meestal voorwaartse sitplekke. Sommige sitplekke kan egter regoor 'n tafel gevind word. Sitplekke in die kamers is beskikbaar by ander dienste. Dit wissel tussen die treinsoorte. Sitplekke kan nie gekies word wanneer u u kaartjie koop nie. Die sitplekrye het groter beenruimte en groter sitplekagtertafels. Voedseltrollies kom gereeld in die motor om te koop, terwyl die buffet-motor ook naby is. Stroomaansluitings is gewoonlik beskikbaar by die meeste dienste, maar nie almal nie; dit kan op die sitplek of aan die onderkant van die bagasierak wees.

BBP-klas: Hierdie sitplekke word onder verskillende name op verskillende lyne verkoop, Sightseeing, VIP of Business Class is die mees algemene name. Dit is nie op elke lyn beskikbaar nie en slegs 'n paar sitplekke is beskikbaar. Baie is gebaseer op moderne, luukse sakeklasstoele, maar sommige is slegs First Class-standaardstoele in 'n meer bevoorregte posisie; hulle is gewoonlik onmiddellik agter die bestuurdersruimte, met 'n glasmuur wat 'n uitsig voor die trein bied. Hierdie glas word egter glad gevries om te verhoed dat passasiers die bestuurder se aandag aftrek. Sitplekke is gewoonlik in 'n 2 1-opstelling gerangskik, maar 2 2 sitplekke kan by sommige dienste gevind word, afhangend van die beskikbare plek in die verskillende treinsoorte. In 'n paar treine is die sitplek vir sakeklasse beskikbaar. 'N Bediende word slegs voorsien in die behoeftes van passasiers in die sakeklas en 'n maaltyd, 'n versnapering en nie-alkoholiese drank word direk op die sitplekke bedien, ingesluit by die tarief. Slippers is ook beskikbaar vir passasiersgebruik. Kragstikkers is by elke sitplek beskikbaar.

CRH2E Interieur vir slaapmotors

Slaapklas (动 卧 dòngwò): Daar is 'n paar stadiger D-genommerde hoëspoed-treine wat oornag in die Chinese netwerk werk. Gewoonlik is hierdie dienste tussen groot bevolkingsentrums met 5 tot 8 uur reistyd tussen hulle; hulle hou min stop. Die treine is opgedeel in 4-stapelhutte, ingerig volgens 'n sagte slaapstandaard van gewone Chinese treine, met beddegoed voorsien. Daar is geen ander sitplek of stapelvlak beskikbaar vir hierdie dienste nie. Dit is nie moontlik vir eenmalige persone in 'n kompartement nie, en alle kaartjies moet met 'n ID-kaart of paspoort gekoop word, wat dit moeilik en nie die moeite werd maak om ekstra beddens in 'n kompartement te koop ter wille van privaatheid. Hierdie dienste is blykbaar nie so gewild soos ander hoëspoeddienste nie, maar verskeie aanbiedings en 'n toenemende aantal beskikbare dienste verander dit stadig. Een diens in elke rigting loop gewoonlik tussen Beijing en Sjanghai, Sjanghai en Guangzhou. Ses oornagdienste loop elke rigting tussen Beijing na Guangzhou, waarvan sommige na Shenzhen en een na Zhuhai. Ekstra dienste word gereeld na ander stede tydens spitstydperke, soos die Lentefees, beplan.

Konvensionele treinklasse

Op die konvensionele (nie-CRH) treine is daar vyf klasse reis:

T-trein sagte slaappak

Harde slaapsak in 'n Z-trein

• Sagte dwarslêers (软卧 ruǎnwò) is die gemaklikste vervoermiddel in die meeste treine en is volgens die Westerse standaarde steeds relatief goedkoop. Die sagte slaapkompartemente bevat vier stapelbedjies wat twee tot 'n kolom opmekaar gepak is, 'n sluitbare deur vir privaatheid en is redelik ruim. Selfs hierdie klas is nie so gemaklik soos 'n hotelkamer nie.
• Harde dwarslêers (硬卧 yìngwò) daarenteen, het drie beddens per kolom naby die opening na die gang. Die hoogste stapelbed laat min ruimte toe vir kopruimte. Groter reisigers (190 cm / 6'3 "en hoër) vind dit dalk die beste stapelbed, want as u slaap, sal u voete tot by die gang uitstrek en hulle sal nie gestamp word nie. Die boonste stapelbed is ook nuttig vir mense met dinge om weg te steek (bv. kameras). Wanneer dit deur u kop geplaas word, is dit moeiliker om die diewe te bereik. Die "harde" slaapplek is nie "hard" nie; die beddens het 'n matras en is oor die algemeen redelik gemaklik. Alle dwarslêers het kussings en 'n kombers. .

In enige slaapklas beteken dit dat u op die trein vanaf 'n middelstasie moet slaap op dieselfde bed wat die laaste passasier sonder die skoonmaakdiens gebruik het. Dit kan 'n goeie opsie wees om 'n weggooibare dekmantel saam te neem.

• Sagte sitplekke (软座 ruǎnzuò) is met doekbedekte sitplekke in die algemeen en is 'n spesiale kategorie wat u selde sal kry. Dit is slegs beskikbaar op dagtreine tussen bestemmings van ongeveer 4-8 uur reistyd.

Binne 'n hedendaagse afrigter vir harde sitplekke

• Harde sitplekke (硬座 yìngzuò), wat eintlik opgevul is, is nie vir almal nie, veral oornag, omdat dit 5 sitplekke breed is, in 'n drie- en twee-reëling. Dit is egter in hierdie klas dat die meeste van die rugsakreisigers reis. Met die "rook nie" -borde in die hoofdeel van die motors, is daar altyd 'n skare rokers aan die einde van die motors, en die rook sal eindeloos in die kajuit dryf. In die meeste treine, veral in die binneland van China, is die ruimte tussen die motors 'n aangewese rookarea, hoewel die tekens vir 'aangewese rookarea' slegs in Chinees is, en dit is miskien nie duidelik vir baie reisigers nie. Om in die harde sitplekke te oornag, is vir omtrent almal ongemaklik, en u het waarskynlik probleme om baie te slaap.
• Staande (无 座 wúzuò) gee toegang tot die motor met die harde sitplek, maar gee geen sitplekbespreking nie. Oorweeg dit om 'n driepootstoel in u rugsak te dra om sulke reise gemakliker te maak. Dit is gewoonlik die enigste klas wat in voorstedelike treine aangebied word. U kan kies om te gaan sit as daar een beskikbaar is, maar moet die sitplek aan die eienaar teruggee indien nodig.

Sommige ander moontlike klasse in treine is trains

• Hoëklas sagte slaapmanne (高级 软卧 / 高 包 gāojí ruǎnwó) is die hoogste klasse beskikbaar in nie-CRH-treine. Die kompartemente bevat gewoonlik twee beddens (soms net een), 'n sluitbare deur vir privaatheid en soms 'n kas, 'n leunstoel. Min van hulle het toilette in die kompartemente. Gewoonlik so gemaklik soos 'n hotelkamer. Die meeste treine het egter nie hierdie klas nie.
• Nie voorbehou nie (不对 号 入座 búduìhàorùzùo) toegang tot die trein toelaat, maar nie gereserveer tot 'n sitplek nie. Dit word gewoonlik gesien in voorstedelike treine waarvan die sitpleknommers nie voorkom nie. Kies net 'n sitplek waarvan u hou en sit of staan ​​in 'n veilige en gemaklike posisie.

Die meeste treine is met lugversorging. Treine sonder lugversorging is skaars en is meestal algemene treine.

Kaartjies bespreek

Chinese treinkaartjie met beskrywingsvelde

Die verkoop van treinkaartjies begin gewoonlik 20 dae voor die tyd, óf aanlyn via die China Rail-besprekingswebwerf óf by die kaartjieskantore van die groot treinstasies. Twee dae later kan kaartjies by private agentskappe gekoop word.

Veral rondom feeste verkoop kaartjies baie vinnig uit, so bespreek kaartjies so lank as moontlik vooraf. Dit is onwettig om tweedehandse kaartjies te koop, dus as u 'afslag' kaartjies by die treinstasie aangebied word, doen dit nie koop dit.

Kaartjie vir China High-Speed ​​Train

Alternatiewe kaartjie-styl wat algemeen in China voorkom

U kan 'n kaartjie koop:

1. vanaf 'n webwerf.
2. by die kaartjiekantoor by die treinstasie
3. vanaf 'n outomatiese kaartjiemasjien
4. by 'n kaartjie-agentskap

Die eerste opsie word vir u gemak aanbeveel.

1. Koop vanaf 'n webwerf (aanbeveel)

Kaartjies kan aanlyn op verskillende webwerwe bespreek word. Besprekings vereis u paspoortnommer. Nadat u die kaartjies bespreek het, moet u die gedrukte kaartjie voor die vertrek by die kaartjiekantoor by die treinstasie afhaal of die gedrukte kaartjie vooraf by u plek laat aflewer. Die nadeel om die kaartjie vooraf te kry, is dat die vertrektyd nie verander kan word nadat die kaartjie gedruk is nie. Dit word egter sterk aanbeveel om die kaartjies vooraf te kry om die spanning te bespaar om in die lang ry by die stasie te wag om die kaartjie net voor die vertrek af te haal. Dienste soos Trip.com voeg ¥ 40 by om die kaartjie vooraf per spoedpos te laat aflewer.

Selfs as u van plan is om u kaartjies by die kaartjiekantoor te koop, is dit die moeite werd om hierdie webwerwe vir beplanningsdoeleindes na te gaan. Baie stede het verskeie CR-stasies, en as u die skedules en gratis kapasiteit nagaan, kan u die beste een vir u bestemming kies.

Amptelike besprekingswerf

China Rail webwerf is die amptelike en enigste definitiewe aanlynbron vir treinskedules, kaartjie beskikbaar en aanlyn bespreking.

Dit is moontlik om kaartjies via die webwerf te bespreek; u moet egter 'n Chinese bankrekening om hulle te betaal. Alhoewel u waarskynlik nie self kaartjies kan bespreek nie, is dit een van die maklikste maniere om vooraf kaartjies te kry om 'n Chinese vriend te vra om dit vir u te doen: die kaartjies word eers aanlyn beskikbaar voordat dit by agentskappe verkoop word, en u doen dit nie u moet die paspoort van elke passasier tydens die bespreking voorlê (hou net al die paspoortnommers gereed). Die kaartjies kan dan te eniger tyd afgehaal word terwyl u paspoort aangebied word, by enige treinstasie of kaartjie-agentskap.

Dit is slegs in Chinees beskikbaar, maar nie moeilik om te gebruik as u sommige Chinese karakters kan lees nie. Klik op "余 ticket 查询" (yu piao cha xun, oorblywende kaartjie-navraag) op die voorblad om treinskedules of beskikbaarheid van kaartjies te vra. Voer oorsprong, bestemming en datum in (die koppelvlak aanvaar pinyin en wys die ooreenstemmende Chinese karakters om te kies), en klik dan op "查询" (cha xun, navraag).

U kry dan 'n matriks van die treine wat op die dag reis en die oorblywende kaartjies.

• 车次: Hierdie kolom toon die treinnommer.
• 出发 站 / 到达 站: oorsprong en bestemming van die trein. Daar kan 'n agtervoegsel by elke stad wees wat die treinstasie aandui. Dit is gewoonlik een van 北 (bei, Noord), 南 (nan, Suid), 东 (dong, Oos), 西 (xi, Wes), byvoorbeeld, 北京 西 is Beijing West-treinstasie. Hierdie agtervoegsels kom veral voor by CRH-treine, aangesien dit gereeld apart is van gewone treine.
• 出发 时间 / 到达 时间: vertrek- en aankomstyd.
• 历时: Die duur van die reis, getoon as "XX 小时 YY 分", waar XX die aantal ure is en YY die aantal minute. Daaronder word die aantal dae aangedui: 当日 到达 (aankoms op dieselfde dag), 次日 到达 (aankoms die volgende dag), 第三 日 到达 (aankoms twee dae later).
• Die res van die kolomme stem ooreen met verskillende klasse en toon die hoeveelheid oorblywende kaartjies. 'Geen kaartjies beskikbaar' word as '无' (wu) vertoon nie, anders word die aantal oorblywende kaartjies getoon. Deur daarop te klik, word die prys vir die kaartjie bekend gemaak. Kyk na die inligting hierbo om die verskillende beskikbare treinsoorte en klasse te verstaan. As u ver vooruit soek, kan 'n tyd van die dag vertoon word, wat dan aandui op watter tydstip kaartjies beskikbaar is om te koop.

Die webwerf het 'n bietjie reputasie dat dit stadig en onbetroubaar is. Dit hou egter meestal verband met tye soos die Chinese Nuwejaar, waar kaartjies binne sekondes uitverkoop word en vragte gegenereer word wat byna enige webwerf op sy knieë sal bring.

Derdeparty-webwerwe

• MTR High Speed ​​Rail webwerf. Hong Kong MTR bied kaartjies vir hoëspoedtreine van / na die Hong Kong West Kowloon Station. Dit aanvaar Visa, MasterCard of Union Pay, en kaartjies wat op hierdie webwerf gekoop word, moet by die Hongkongse Wes-Kowloon-stasie afgehaal word. Geen koste. 
• PandaTrips.com. China treinkaartjies aanlyn-besprekingswebwerf in Engels, drie stappe, maklik om kaartjies te bespreek.
• Trip.com webwerf (voorheen Ctrip). Treinkaartjie-besprekings aanlyn in 19 tale. 
• CTrip. 'N Chinese reiswebwerf met 'n Engelse weergawe en 'n Engelse mobiele app waarmee u roosters kan sien, konvensionele en hoëspoedtreine van 20 dae tot 30 minute voor vertrek kan bespreek. U sal u paspoortbesonderhede in die app moet registreer. 'N Aankoopbewys vir die treinkaartjie word twee uur na aankoop na die app gestuur. Wys dit aan die stasiepersoneel by die kaartjietoonbank met u paspoort om die treinkaartjie af te haal. Aanvaar internasionale krediet- / debietkaarte, insluitend American Express. (April 2017 opgedateer)
• CTrains.com is die eerste aanlyn-besprekingswebwerf vir China-treinkaartjies vir Engelse gebruikers. Reisigers kan China-treinkaartjies intyds 24/7 aanlyn bespreek. Dit vra ook geen besprekingsfooie nie.
• Die Man in Seat 61 webwerf het 'n goeie afdeling oor Chinese treine.
• Absolute China Toere of Hoogtepunte in China beskik oor Engelse tyd- en tariefinligting (hoewel dit baie nuttig is, is die lys van hierdie webwerwe nie 100% volledig nie)
• OK Reis^{[dooie skakel]} het meer skedules. Hierdie webwerf is meestal in Chinees, maar bevat geromaniseerde plekname en u kan dit gebruik sonder om Chinees te ken. Kies eenvoudig op die soekbladsy uit die verstrekte lyste: die linkerkant is die plek van vertrek, die regterkant is die bestemming. U moet die provinsies of streke in die keuselys kies voordat die ooreenstemmende lys stede verskyn. U kies die stede wat u wil hê en druk dan die linkerknop hieronder (gemerk 确认, "bevestig") om die soektog uit te voer. As u plekname in Chinese karakters kan invoer, kan die soekfunksie u selfs help om reise met meerdere bene te beplan.
• CNVOL het 'n uitgebreide (redelik volledige) en gereeld opgedateerde lys van al die treine wat in China ry. Voer net die name in van die plekke waar u moet begin en eindig, en u sal 'n lys vind van alle treine wat die roete insluit (insluitend alle treine wat net by u geselekteerde stasies ry), met hul begin- en einde stede en tye. Klik op 'n treinnommer waarvan u hou, en u kan die pryse vir al die klasse sitplekke of slaapplekke vind wat beskikbaar is deur die tjekprys verder af te klik. Die belangrikste hier is om u dorpsname in 'pinyin' reg te stel, die karakters word nooit deur 'n spasie geskei nie, dit wil sê Lijiang, Beijing, Sjanghai, Shenzhen, Kunming, ens.

2. Koop by 'n kaartjiekantoor by die treinstasie

'N (Rustige) kaartjiekantoor in Guangzhou South Station

Elke stasie sal een of meer kaartjiekantore hê waar u in die tou kan staan ​​en 'n kaartjie kan koop. Daar kan verwag word dat daar 'n sekuriteitspunt is om u bagasie te skandeer by toegang tot die kaartjiekantore in die grootste stasie. Hulle kan baie druk wees, met lang toue en min tekens in Engels. Groot elektroniese borde, bo die kaartvensters, sal egter die volgende treine vertoon wat by die stasie geskeduleer is, en die volgende paar dae nog sitplekke in elke klas. Die beampte wil net u bestemming ken en u voorsien van die volgende treine en die beskikbare sitplekklas. Op die grootste stasies kan 'n toegewyde kaartjievenster vir buitelanders voorsien word. Spesiale lyne kan toegewy word vir die terugbetaling van kaartjies, omruil of net vir ouer burgers met min Engelse inligting om te verduidelik watter lyn is watter. Dit kan moontlik wees om by die verkeerde tou aan te sluit en die personeel te weier om u te bedien. Kaartjieskantore vir treinstasies kan nou kaartjies verkoop wat van ander stasies regoor China vertrek en in ander spoorweggebiede werk teen 'n ekstra fooi van ¥ 5 per kaartjie.

Gewoonlik word kontant vir kaartjies betaal, hoewel sommige balies UnionPay-kaarte aanvaar. Buitelandse kredietkaarte is slegs nuttig in groot stasies in die grootste stede.

Oor die algemeen, as u na 'n toonbank gaan om kaartjies te koop, sal u almal baie moeite spaar as u u treinnommer, datum en tyd van vertrek, sitplekklas en aantal kaartjies het, sowel as die oorsprongs- en bestemmingsstede. af in Chinees, of ten minste in Pinyin. Personeel praat gewoonlik nie Engels nie, en by die treinstasies sal hulle nie baie geduld hê nie, want daar is gewoonlik lang toue.

3. Koop vanaf 'n outomatiese kaartjiemasjien

Kaartjieverkoopmasjiene in Beijing West Railway Station

Korter toue kan gevind word by die outomatiese kaartjiemasjiene. Ondanks 'n Engelse opsie om inligting te vertoon, kan dit slegs Chinese identiteitskaarthouers verkoop. Masjiene kan neem, hoewel baie dit net aanvaar UnionPay-kaarte of kontant. Hulle is gewoonlik langs die kaartjiekantoor. Sommige outomatiese kaartjie-masjiene is slegs vir 'n spesifieke lyn of streekgebied van die netwerk, maar dit word normaalweg duidelik gemerk en op die masjien vertoon. Ondanks hul beperkings, is dit steeds handig om treinskedules en kaartjie beskikbaar in Engels vinnig te vind voordat hulle by 'n kaartjie ry aansluit.

4. Koop by 'n treinkaartjie-agentskap of kantoor

Baie stede en dorpe het 'n aantal afsonderlike treinkaartjiekantore of agentskappe. Dit kan soos 'n groot winkel wees, tipies in baie reisagentskappe of groot hotelle, maar kan meer dikwels 'n eenvoudige gat-in-die-muur-reëling wees. Gewoonlik is hulle nie druk nie, gewoonlik geen lyne nie, en geriefliker geleë as baie treinstasies. Die taalvaardighede van hierdie agentskappe sal egter ontbreek. Dit kan moeilik wees om 'n kantoor te vind, as gevolg van die klein grootte en slegs Chinese aanwysings, kyk uit vir 'n CRH- of China Railways-logo of bloot vir 'n lys treinnommers langs die venster. Hulle werk op dieselfde manier as 'n kaartjiekantoor vir 'n stasie, maar hef 'n ekstra ¥ 5 per kaartjie as agentskapsfooi. Dit is 'n klein prys vir die gemak.

Die klein kaartjievensterwinkels wat in stede versprei is, het die titel "售 火车票" (shou huo che piao). Reisagentskappe sal vooraf geld en besprekings vir kaartjies aanvaar, maar niemand kan u kaartjie waarborg voordat die stasie dit op die mark vrystel nie, en dan sal u agentskap die kaartjie gaan koop wat hulle u "gewaarborg" het. Dit geld oral in China.

Vervanging van verlore kaartjies

As u u kaartjie verloor het, moet u met u paspoort of ID na die kaartjiekantoor gaan om dit te vervang. Soek die gespesialiseerde kaartjiekantoorvenster wat handel oor verlore kaartjies (挂失, guàshī). Die vensterbediende kanselleer u verlore kaartjie en u sal 'n nuwe vervangende kaartjie vir dieselfde prys koop. Vertel die dirigent aan boord dat u kaartjie vervang word. Die dirigent sal 'n elektroniese rekord open, sodat u 'n terugbetaling by u bestemmingstasie kan kry. Gaan persoonlik met u paspoort of ID en vervangingskaartjie binne 24 uur na aankoms by die bestemmingstasie na die kaartjiekantoor se terugbetalingshantering (退票 处, tuìpiào chǔ). Die terugbetaling word kontant minus 'n fooi van ¥ 2 by die venster betaal.

Wenke

• As u nie 'n regstreekse kaartjie koop nie (veral as die treine oorvol is), probeer dan verdeel u reis in 2 stukke of meer. Met die trein ry is 'n baie gewilde manier om op kort afstand in China te reis, en die kaartjies vir korter afstande is gewoonlik baie makliker om te koop as die langafstandkaartjies. Onwaarskynlike vertragings met die trein kan u egter in 'n trein laat beland en u maklik die verbinding laat mis. As u 'n lang afstand met die volgende trein ry, kan dit 'n opvallende duur ervaring wees om die trein te mis. Oorweeg dus die risiko dat treine ontbreek, en probeer om die verbindingsrit korter te maak as die eerste.
• As u in die middel van die ry na 'n klein stad gaan, in plaas van aan die einde daarvan, sal die besprekingstelsel die aantal kaartjies by die stasies verminder en meer kaartjies vir die groter. Die spoorwegstelsel laat 'n passasier toe om op 'n middelstasie af te klim of aan te gaan. Sodat jy kan verleng u kaartjie om 'n korter reis te maak, of 'Koop langer en ry korter' wat deur Chinese gereelde passasiers en spoorwegwaaiers geken word. Dit sal effens meer kos, maar baie beter as om nie 'n kaartjie te kry nie.
• As u as 'n groep reis (met u familie, vriende ensovoorts), sal die stelsel u slegs op die naaste sitplekke plaas. Probeer dit dus as u nie op hierdie manier 'n kaartjie kry nie (gewoonlik op die webwerf) verdeel 'n groep in enkelpersone en dit sal baie makliker wees. Aangesien u dalk met die trein geskei is, kan u die sitplekke met ander passasiers verander. Die meeste van hulle sal nie van plan wees om van sitplek te verander nie, maar sommige kan u vra om die prysgapings te betaal (byvoorbeeld die gaping tussen 'n boonste en 'n onderste stapelbed). Kyk na die pryse wat op sy / haar kaartjie aangedui word, en verwag dat u waarskynlik 'n bietjie ekstra geld sal hê. Wees altyd dankbaar as iemand u instem om die sitplekke te verander, en help hulle as hulle probeer om hul bagasie te skuif, wat sal wys dat u vriendelik is en dat u waarskynlik 'n "Ja" antwoord sal kry. Probeer om nie toe te laat dat 'n ouer persoon wat ouer as 55 is, na die boonste stapelbakke oorskakel nie. Dit kan moeilik wees om op te klim.
• As u na 'n stad met 'n CRH-verbinding gaan, probeer dan om 'n CRH-diens te bespreek eerder as gewone treine, wat duurder tariewe beteken, maar baie makliker kaartjies om te kry. Daar is baie meer snelwegdienste tussen stede in plaas van gewone. Soms is 'n CRH-kaartjie goedkoper as die gewone trein in afslagseisoene. Wanneer u dit doen, moet u eerstens 'n CRH-bedieningsstasie kies (byvoorbeeld as u vanaf Beijing na Sjanghai bespreek, verander die stasies in Beijing-Suid en Sjanghai Hongqiao wat slegs hoëspoeddienste lewer.

Treinstasies

Nota: Chinese treinstasies is tradisioneel 'n brandpunt van sakkerollers, kunstenaars en ander misdadigers. Groter stasies word goed gepatrolleer deur die polisie, binne en buite die stasie, maar wees veral versigtig in kleiner stasies.

Baie stede het verskillende stasies vir normale treine en hoëspoedtreine. Hoëspoedstasies se name bestaan ​​gewoonlik uit die stad en die hoofrigting (byvoorbeeld Héngyángdōng "Hengyang-Oos").

Chinese treinstasies funksioneer meer soos 'n lughawe as soos 'n treinstasie in 'n ander land. Moet dus nie daarop reken om op die laaste oomblik 'n trein te haal nie - hekke sluit 'n paar minute voor vertrek! Om veilig te wees, wees daar minstens 20 minute vroeg of 30 minute as u 'n groot treinstasie binnegaan.

U moet 'n aanvanklike kaartjie en sekuriteitstoets slaag om die stasie te betree. Nadat u in die vertreksaal is, volg die digitale aanwyserkaarte om die regte instaphek te vind (dit moet in beide Engels en Chinees wees, ten minste op CRH-stasies; as slegs Chinees beskikbaar is, sal u steeds die treindiensnommer kan vind wat bo-aan jou kaartjie gedruk word). Wag in die wagarea naby u hek totdat u aan boord ongeveer 10–20 minute voor vertrek aankondig. U slaag dan 'n kaartjekontrole (hou u paspoort gereed, want hulle wil dit dalk sien) en volg die skare na die perron. Daar is twee soorte kaartjies: kaartjies met rooi papier wat by kaartjiesagentskappe uitgereik word, en blou magnetiese kaartjies wat u by die stasie se kaartjiekantoor kry. Blou kaartjies val in een van die outomatiese kaartjiehekke, terwyl rooi kaartjies met die hand nagegaan word; maak seker dat u op die regte plek deur die hek gaan.

Op die perron kan die trein dalk al wag; anders, soek u motornommer wat op die perronrand staan ​​en sorg dat u op die regte plek wag, want die trein stop dikwels net 'n paar minute. If there are no such indications, show your ticket to staff and they will show you where to wait. Some newer stations have higher level platforms that are level with the door, but at smaller stations the platforms are very low and you have to ascend several steep steps to board the train, so be prepared if you have a large suitcase. Generally passengers are friendly and will offer to help you with any bulky luggage.

Wuchang Railway Station: exiting from the arrival area. The arriving passengers' tickets are checked at the exit gate

At your destination, you leave the platform through one of the clearly indicated exits, which will not bring you into the waiting area but outside of the station. Your ticket will be checked again and you can keep your ticket.

Finding your train station

While conventional trains typically stop at older train stations, in the urban cores, high-speed train use new routes that bypass cities central areas. Although in some cities (e.g. Shijiazhuang) high-speed trains may use the same station with the conventional trains, it is more common for them to call at a new purpose-built station on the city's outskirts. It is therefore essential for the passenger to pay attention to the exact name of the station where his train is to be boarded. For example, in Xi'an, conventional trains stop at Xi'an Railway Station, while high-speed ones do at Xi'an North (Xi'an bei) Railway Station; in Kunming, the conventional trains are at Kunming Railway Station, while the high-speed ones are at Kunming South (Kunming nan). Sometimes a city served by three parallel lines (an older "conventional" one, a long-distance high-speed line, and an "intercity" [commuter] high-speed line) may have drie stations used by the three types of service! (e.g. Xianning, Hubei).

Local people may refer railway stations with an unofficial name, which can be totally different from the real station name. For example, Tianjin Station may be called "Tianjin East Station".

Sometimes a train stops at two or more stations within the city (e.g. Nanning and Nanning East (Nanning dong)), in which case you can buy a ticket to or from the station more convenient to your destination.

As China's railway network, and in particularly its high-speed component, develop rapidly, it's not unusual for a new station to open before proper access roads to it have been constructed. Having chosen what appears to be a direct route to the station, you may find it interrupted by a construction site, a fence around a strawberry field, a field of mud, or a complicated (and poorly sign-posted) detour via a residential neighborhood. (Examples, as of 2016-2017: Yuxi; Hekou North; southern approach to Fangchenggang North.) Due to the same rapid development, it is not unusual for a slightly older printed map of a city to show only the older station (service to which may have been reduced or altogether discontinued), and not the recently opened new station.

Local bus and taxi drivers should, presumably, be aware of the most sensible routes available, but out-of-towners are occasionally led astray by their GPS navigators.

When a new station opens, bus and taxi service to it starts immediately (or almost immediately); so getting from the station to the town by public transportation usually is not a problem; but to get to the station from town by bus, you may want to find out in advance which bus routes run there, and where their stops are in town. In large cities with subway systems (Xi'an, Wuhan, Suzhou, Fuzhou...) building a subway line to the new station usually becomes a priority for the local transportation planners; still, it may take a few years for the line to be completed.

Travel tips

Train doors are always managed by railway staff, which means you should nie attempt to open or close them by yourself unless in case of a genuine emergency.

CRH trains are top-notch, even internationally, in terms of equipment and cleanliness. This includes the toilets, which reliably have toilet paper and soap available – a rare thing in China. The toilets on non-high-speed trains also tend to be a little more "usable" than on buses or most public areas because they are simple devices that empty the contents directly onto the track and thus don't smell as bad. Soft sleeper cars usually have European style toilets at one end of the car and Chinese squat toilets at the other. On non-CRH trains if the train will be stopping at a station, the conductor will normally lock the bathrooms prior to arrival so that people will not leave deposits on the ground at the station.

Long distance trains will have a buffet or dining car, which serves not very tasty hot food at around ¥25. The menu will be entirely in Chinese, but if you're willing to take the chance then you can eat very well (try to interpret some of the Chinese characters, or ask for common dishes by name). If you are on a strict budget then wait until the train stops at a station. There are normally vendors on the platform who will sell noodles, snacks, and fruit at better prices. There are no showers provided on all sleeper trains, so consider bringing towels or bathing before boarding a sleeper train.

Every train car normally has a hot boiled water dispenser available so bring tea, soups and instant noodles in order to make your own food. Passengers commonly bring a thermos bottle, or some kind of closeable glass cup, to make tea.

Be careful with your valuables while on the train; property theft on public transportation has risen.

On most higher-level trains (T, K, Z and CRH trains) recorded announcements are made in Chinese, English and occasionally Cantonese (if the train serves Guangdong province or Hongkong), Mongolian (in Inner Mongolia), Tibetan (in Tibet) or Uighur (in Xinjiang). Local trains will have no announcements in English, so knowing when to get off can be harder.

Motion sickness pills are recommended if you are inclined toward that type of ailment. Ear plugs are recommended to facilitate uninterrupted sleep. In sleeper cars, tickets are exchanged for cards on long distance trains. The cabin attendants return the original tickets when the train approaches the destination station thus ensuring everyone gets off where they should even if they can't wake themselves up.

If you have some things to share on the train, you'll have fun. The Chinese families and business people travelling the route are just as bored as the next person and will be happy to attempt conversation or share a movie shown on a laptop. All in all, the opportunity to see the countryside going by is a neat experience.

Smoking is not permitted in the seating or sleeping areas but is allowed in the vestibules at the end of each car. On the new CRH trains, the Guangzhou-Kowloon shuttle train and the Beijing Suburban Railway smoking is completely forbidden. Smoking is banned inside station buildings apart from in designated smoking rooms, although these places are often unpleasant and poorly ventilated.

If you bought your ticket online, make sure to arrive at the right station as many cities have more than two or more stations that are far from each other.

Checked luggage and parcels

Chinese railways allow you to take large suitcases (at least up to the size of the standard airline check-in luggage with you) aboard your train; depending on the class of service, on how full the train is, and on how much luggage other passengers have, it may or may not be easy to find a way to stow you luggage in the railcar without it being in everybody's way. There is normally no way to transport your bags as checked luggage on the same train with you, the way airlines do. However, if you need to transport large or bulky items (e.g. large boxes or a full-size bicycle), or want to send things separately from you, you can have them sent to your destination using China Railway Express (CRE). See the detailed discussion under High-speed rail in China#Checked luggage and parcel service.

High-speed rail

Sjina has built a high-speed passenger rail network and is continuing to expand it rapidly. The trains are similar to French TGV, German ICE, or Japanese Shinkansen. Over 30,000 km of routes are in service, making China's system the world's largest high-speed network.

These are easily the best way of getting around China where available. The trains are clean, comfortable and modern. Seating is comparable to that in an airplane or even better. Most tickets are for assigned seats; no-seat tickets are sometimes sold in limited numbers but, unlike regular Chinese trains, there is never a mad crush with more people sitting in the aisles than in seats. Also unlike other trains, no smoking is allowed, not even between carriages. Prices are reasonable by Western standards and, on most routes, departures are frequent.

Although China has a well-developed and advanced airport infrastructure, the country suffers from notorious flight delays whereas the high-speed rail network is very punctual. Although the flight from Beijing to Shanghai (for example) is shorter than the train ride, once you take travel time to and from the airport and the likelihood of long delays into account the rail connection is far more appealing.

The fast trains are called CRH, China Railway High-speed. At some train stations there is a separate CRH ticket office or even vending machines; at others, CRH tickets are sold at separate counters in the main ticket office. In either case, look for the “CRH” signs or logo.

The speeds attained vary considerably from line to line. The technology used also varies. Nearly all the rolling stock is now manufactured in China, but much of the technology has come from abroad. The Canadian company Bombardier, Japanese Kawasaki, German Siemens (manufacturer of the ICE) and French Alstom (manufacturer of the TGV) have been involved. Some new lines have adopted individual interior colour schemes and decor to highlight the region they operate in, however most trains follow a standard palette.

Carry-on luggage

Luggage racks can be found at the ends of most cars, otherwise oversized luggage can fit behind the last seat at the carriage end. Train staff are very strict on how luggage is placed on the overhead luggage racks, poking any loose straps away or rearranging any bags they deem to be dangerous. Overall, due to fewer passengers per car and more space given for luggage, luggage arrangements on high-speed trains are much more adequate than in "hard-seat" cars of ordinary trains (where passengers' big suitcase often end up blocking the aisle and inconveniencing everyone).

According to the rules printed on the back of each ticket, a passenger on Chinese trains is allowed to carry up to 20 kg of luggage for free (10 kg on a children's ticket); the sum of length, width, and height of each piece should not exceed 160 cm on ordinary trains or 130 cm on high-speed trains. In practice, no one usually checks the weight of your luggage, so if you can handle its weight, you can take it along. Maar, reports from Hong Kong's new Hong Kong West Kowloon Station (opened 2018) indicate that size is checked at this station.

Other than the checks reported from Hong Kong, any suitcase that satisfies the standard size restrictions for check-in baggage on international airlines appears in practice to be OK for carry-on on China's high-speed trains. However, if a train is full, finding space for your large bag may sometimes be difficult. A collapsible (folding) bicycle, properly folded and packed into a suitably large bag, will be permitted as well.

Checked luggage and parcel service

Items too large to carry on (including full-size bicycles, or electric scooters) or containing certain items prohibited in carry-on luggage (e.g. knives) can be sent (托运 tuoyun) as checked luggage. This service is operated by China Railway Express Company (CRE) (中铁快运), so this is the name you'll see on the signs.

Die CRE web site (in Chinese) has a list of their drop-off and pick-up office locations; look for the服务网点 link on the main page. The form will ask you for your location, in terms of China's three-level administrative division (province, prefecture-level city, county or district) and the street address (if you don't know one, you usually can enter a station name instead, e.g. 上海南站), and it will show you the service locations on the map. Most major stations have a CRE office (which serves as the station's baggage department), usually in a building somewhere near the main station building. There are some exceptions though: for example, even though you can send a parcel from the baggage department at the Wuchang Railway Station in Wuhan, parcels sent to Wuchang Station will most likely have to be collected in a shed in a construction material market some 5 km away from the station.

There is no requirement that the sender travels to the same station where the baggage is sent (or that s/he travels at all); one can use the service to send a parcel to another person. The service seems to be fairly popular with small businesses.

Checked luggage does not travel on the same train with you, and is likely to arrive to its destination a few days later. The service standard is 3 days for distances up to 600 km, and an additional day for each full or partial 600 km beyond that. (For example, the service standard from Guangxi aan Jiangsu, on a route that would involve several transfers, is 6 days). In practice, of course, your parcel may arrive much faster than that, especially if being shipped between two stations that are connected by some slow passenger train that includes a baggage car.

The cost of a shipment is computed as the per-kg rate based on the distance (as per the official railway mileage) multiplied by the weight of the item being shipped. For shipping a bicycle, the cost is computed as for a 25-kg item.

For a distance of around 1000 km (e.g. from Beijing or Fuzhou to Wuhan or Nanjing), the rate is around ¥3 per kg, which amount to ¥70-80 for a 25-kg piece of luggage or a parcel, or for a bicycle (as of 2018). From Fangchenggang on the South China Sea to Yangzhou near Shanghai (over 2000 km) the cost for a 25-kg item was ¥137 as of 2016.

The CRE web site has a cost and travel time estimator tool. Follow the 价格时效 link, and enter the origin and destination location (in terms of province, city, district) and the shipment's weight in kilograms.

Onboard services

Dining cars with full restaurant service are rare on most high-speed services. Typically buffet cars serving light meals and drinks are provided with standing benches and tables. Large and well-maintained western-style toilets are to be found on all services. A centrally located compartment houses the train manager, to help with passenger issues or ticketing.

Electronic signage will display information such as the time, train speed, next stop and indoor/outdoor temperatures in Chinese and English. Most announcements will be bi-lingual in Chinese and English and most staff are bilingual too. Some services feature multiple overhead video display units along a carriage, mostly featuring CRH promotional videos and light entertainment shows.

Unlike hard-seat cars in conventional trains, in which passengers sit facing each other (convenient for card games!), on most high-speed trains, everybody's seat faces forward. (Seats are rotatable and if your train changes its direction en route, all passengers will be asked to rotate their seats!)

Pricing

The price structure is at a set rate per kilometre according to the class of travel and G, D or C numbering of the train. The price difference for the classes is not enormous, except for Business, VIP, and Sightseeing Class which can be double in price. High-speed sleeper services, where available, have a single class for the entire train, called 动卧, which is different from (and considerably more expensive than) the hard sleeper 硬卧 and soft sleeper 软卧 on a "conventional" train.

Different high-speed trains may take different routes between two stations; e.g., some trains traveling from Nanjing to Hangzhou (and points further south) take the direct Nanjing-Hangzhou line, while others travel via Shanghai. As the fare is based on distance, the (usually faster) trains using the shorter direct route are less expensive than the (slower) trains that travel via Shanghai. Similarly, as of 2018, the 2nd-class HSR fare between Chongqing and Shanghai varies between ¥556 and ¥1078. The lowest fare is on the shortest route along the Yangtze, via Wuhan (Hankou), Hefei, and Nanjing; somewhat more expensive is the southern route, via Guiyang, Changsha, Nanjing, and Hangzhou; the most expensive route is the northern, via Xi'an, Zhengzhou, Xuzhou, and Nanjing.

The price difference between a high-speed and conventional train can be quite substantial. As an example, for the Fuzhou-Shanghai D train (seven hours and well over 1000 km) second class is ¥262 and first class is ¥330. There is a K train for only ¥130 (for a hard seat), but it takes 17 hours on a indirect route and is often very crowded, and a ticket does not always guarantee a seat. Unless your budget is extremely tight or you cannot cope with several hours in a non-smoking train, the fast train is hugely preferable and easily worth the cost difference.

As the ticket price of trains would not vary based on the demand, out of high seasons and in some long journeys such as Beijing to Guangzhou the airfare may be cheaper than a Second Class G train. Check the airfare if you are traveling for more than 1000 km between major cities and are looking for a cheaper or faster option.

Boarding your train

High-speed rail stations are designed in a similar manner to modern airports. In order to enter the departure area you will require your ticket and ID, and have to pass all your bags through an x-ray machine. While knives, fireworks, easily inflammable liquids, etc. are prohibited, there are no restrictions on bringing drinks.

The departure area at Shanghai Hongqiao Station

Your train will be clearly designated with a gate or hall, these are generally easy to find. From a large single hall, there may be quite a few gates, with large crowds waiting for various services other than your own. Sometimes the gate that a particular train is using is not displayed until just prior to departure but more typically as the previous service departs. Gate and hall numbers will bear no similarity to the platform that the train will use. Typically people will be allowed to access the platform 15 minutes before departure. The departure area can be extremely large, so like an airport allow time to get to your platform.

The departure area will have a few restaurants and shops. The larger stations will often feature western fast food chains. Small supermarkets and shops typically sell drinks, instant noodles and other snack foods. Some stations have a counter that provides one free bottle of mineral water to each ticket-holder. Lounge areas often exist for business class and VIP passengers, plus for passengers associated with several bank and mobile phone programs.

First call for your service will be often be made for elderly passengers, families with babies or infants and the disabled first. They will be processed manually by station staff before access is opened to other passengers.

The queue will be quite long at a terminal station (such as Shanghai Hongqiao) and there will be a tendency for plenty of people to push in ahead of you. You are not going to miss your train with no need to panic or rush in most circumstances. Although you can also push through if the timing is getting tight.

At the gates at the newest and more modern stations, put the blue train tickets into the slot of the automatic gate, the barriers will then open, ensure that collect your ticket again from the machine and have your ID ready before descending to the platform. Otherwise, if you have the alternative styled tickets or it is just manually controlled gate, simply hand your ticket over to station staff.

Most modern and refurbished stations have a single gate leading to a single platform. If the gate does not lead directly to the platform, the stations will use a common overpass passageway with stairways or escalators leading to their respective platforms, however train services are clearly signposted for each platform and often blocked when not in use. It is thus very difficult to take the wrong direction, despite this, older stations may have several steps up and down along its route which may be difficult for frail passengers or those with heavy luggage.

On the train some people tend to take any seat they want, although they will move if you show them your reservation for that particular seat. If such person fails to move away, you may want to report to the conductor or even railway police officers. A diagram on the wall depicts which seat is closest to the window or aisle.

During the journey

Second class seats

Example of high-speed railway meal, price normally ranging from ¥15 to ¥75

A buffet cart is available throughout the journey in all classes, which is normally more expensive than regular prices. A free hot water dispenser is provided in every carriage for passengers to use with their tea or instant noodles. A buffet car is open for the duration of the train journey with a selection of drinks, meals and snacks that can vary greatly depending on the service; you are also likely to see vendors walking through the train selling similar food products and drinks. Full restaurant style service is limited to a very few long distance trains. Complimentary bottled water and snacks are provided in First Class on a few services. Business Class passengers benefit from a free breakfast, lunch, or dinner, depending on the time and generally only for long-haul travellers. Many stations have vendors on the platforms as well. However time can be very limited at some stops to effectively purchase anything.

Passengers are able to order take-aways from local restaurants or fast food chains inside stations via the China Railways official website and their official app. 27 stations, including Shanghai, Nanjing, Tianjin, Guangzhou and other major cities, offer this service and it is rolling out to other stations gradually.

Smoking is illegal anywhere on the train. Smoking on trains will trigger an emergency brake of the train and lead to a fine of ¥1000 or more and maybe 5 days in jail. It is also not allowed on the platform, although it seems to be standard practice for people to take a quick smoking break just outside the train doors if the train stops for a few minutes.

In Second Class you can recline your seat a little bit. In First Class you can greatly recline your seat and shut the blinds if you want a nap. In Business Class you can fully lie down when equipped with airline style seating but only recline on some other train types. Sleeper trains have four berth cabins, equipped with bedding with passengers seated on the lower berths.

Arrival at your destination

High-speed train arriving at Beijing West station

Arriving at a destination, exiting passengers are directed to a separate exit from entering passengers on the platform that will lead to a common passageway or hall. Larger stations might have two exits either side of the station so be aware of which one is needed as the distance between either exit can be quite far, often around the entire station complex. Tickets are needed again to leave through any automated exit gates. Crumpled tickets may not work. Most exit barriers are manned for manual inspection of tickets if needed. If you have a light red ticket (not the blue ones), it will need to be checked manually upon exiting the station, as the machines will not be able to read them. There is another ticket office in this area so that you can pay the difference in case you travelled further than the ticket you originally purchased, so do not throw away your ticket!

Larger stations will feature more restaurants or shops in this area, maybe some tourism services. There is often a clean restroom before the exit gates. Probably worth taking advantage of after a long journey and before venturing out into a new Chinese city.

Often the station has a metro station located close by, then queues for the metro ticket machine can get very long after a high-speed train has just arrived. Another common feature for new high-speed stations are for long-distance bus stations to be co-located there, these can take passengers to many regional centres surrounding that city. However, do not expect buses to go to every destination you might expect (Chengdu East Station's bus terminal just serves cities mostly to the East of Chengdu for example), you might still need to travel to the older bus station in that city. Local bus services and taxis will be signposted. Beware of taxi touts and illegal operators harassing passengers as they leave the station. Only use taxis leaving from the designated area and insist on using the taximeter.

For rail travel towards Beijing and other major cities before and during important events (such as military parades, annual congressional meetings, international conferences, etc.), you will be placed under secondary security screening once you have arrived at your station.

Connecting trains

If connecting to another train service at the same station, it is possible sometimes to go directly to the Waiting Hall without having to exit the station and then re-enter through security. Do not follow the crowds getting off the train and follow signs on the platform for Train Connections (Transfer), directly from the platform or in some stations from the Arrivals Hall before the exit barriers. You must show your ticket and ID for the connecting service to station staff. However it is possible for this access to not be manned or opened at many stations, thus exiting and re-entry of the station is required.

Bly veilig

China suffered a devastating accident in 2011 when a CRH train collision killed 40 and injured nearly 200. The accident was blamed on a lack of safety measures and was seen as an example of safety being sacrificed in favor of rapid development. However, speed was not a factor as the crash happened while one train was stationary and the other ran at speeds common for older trains. China has made a massive effort to recover from this, by reducing speeds by 50 km/h and completely restructuring the Chinese Rail Company. Since then there have been no further accidents or fatalities. However, given that speed was not a factor in the crash and speeds are still limited to 300 km/h instead of 350, many observers say the speed reduction had economic rather than safety reasons.

There aren't so many thieves on board the trains. But travellers are suggested to keep their valuables with them and all luggage in sight. You can also lock your larger items to the luggage compartments if you feel unsafe (though few riders do this), but you have to bring a small lock with you unless you are travelling on one of the "Fuxing" branded trains where you can lock your bags or suitcases to the compartments using your tickets.

Even faster — Maglev

Maglev train in Shanghai

Shanghai has a magnetic levitation train from the downtown Pudong area to Shanghai Pudong International Airport. The top speed is around 431 km/h (268 mph) during daytime hours and the 30-km trip takes around 8 minutes and costs ¥50.

International and regional routes

Sien ook: Hong Kong#High speed rail

The direction board of train K3/K4 running from Beijing aan Moskou via Ulaanbaatar. The train service is one of the earliest international train services of China.

Hongkong is connected to Shenzhen en Guangzhou with services running all the way to Shanghai and Beijing. This is the first 'cross border' high-speed connection in China due to Hong Kong's special status, having started public operation on 23 Sep 2018. Alternatively, one can get to Shenzhen by high-speed train, walk across the border (or connect by Shenzhen Metro) and take the Hong Kong metro (MTR) downtown.

Those riding the high-speed trains will complete both Hong Kong and mainland Chinese immigration checks at Kowloon West Railway Station. On the other hand, if you're riding the conventional trains, you will clear Hong Kong immigration at Hung Hom, and clear mainland Chinese immigration at the mainland Chinese station you end/begin your journey in. Be sure to factor in extra time to complete all these procedures.

For trains to and from Hong Kong, payment can be either in yuan or Hong Kong dollars, with the HK$ price being updated every month to be in sync with yuan pricing.

The following are international trains available:

• K3 Beijing-Ulaanbaatar-Moscow (Yaroslavsky)
• K23 Beijing-Ulanbattar
• K19 Beijing-Moscow (Yaroslavsky)
• 4652/4653 Hohhot-Ulanbattar
• K27 Beijing-Pyongyang (Please also refer to North Korea#Get in)
• T8701 Nanning-Hanoi (Gia Lam)
• K9797 Urumqi-Astana
• K9795 Urumqi-Almaty

• • China International Travel Services, 1/F, Beijing International Hotel, 9 Jianguomen Inner Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing, ☏ 86-010-65120507. This is China International Travel Services' main office in Beijing. Tickets for train services K3, K19 and K23 can be bought here. Tickets should be ordered a few weeks in advance and may require a reservation fee during the summer holiday. (April 2020 opgedateer)

Besides, the following international trains runs from Chinese border cities to foreign cities. Not only their tickets can be purchased more easily, they are also more cheaper, and are widely used by budget travellers.

• 95 Dandong-Pyongyang
• 401 Suifenhe-Pogranichnyy
• 683 Erlian-Ulanbattar
• 601 Manzhouli-Chita
• 653 Manzhouli-Zabaykalsky