Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
D, C and G class high-speed trains. First class comes with TVs, mobile phone
and laptop charging points, and seats arranged two abreast.
Second-class soft seats are also very comfortable; staff are very courteous
throughout.
Hard-seat class
is not available on the faster and plusher C, D and G class
trains, and is only found on T and K class trains and trains without a number
prefix; a handful of Z class trains have hard seat. Hard-seat class generally
has padded seats, but it's hard on your sanity; often unclean and noisy, and
painful on the long haul.
You should get a ticket with an assigned seat number; if seats have sold out,
ask for a
standing ticket
, which gets you on the train, where you may find a
seat or can upgrade.
TICKETING
Buying Tickets
The Achilles heel of China's overburdened rail system, buying tickets can be a
pain.
Most tickets are one way only, with prices calculated per kilometre and ad-
justments made depending on class of train, availability of air-con, type of
sleeper and bunk positioning.
The following are some tips on buying train tickets.
» Never aim to get a hard-sleeper (or increasingly, soft-sleeper) ticket on the
day of travel - plan ahead.
» Most tickets can be booked in advance between two and 10 days prior to
your intended date of departure.
» Buying hard-seat tickets at short notice is usually no hassle, but it may be a
standing ticket rather than a numbered seat.
» Tickets are only purchasable with cash.
» You will need your passport when buying a ticket (the number is printed on
your ticket) at all train ticket offices.
» Most automated ticket machines (eg at Shanghai Train station) require
Chinese ID and your passport will not work; you will need to queue at the tick-
et window.
