One of the best ways to travel domestically within China itself will be using their High-Speed Trains or High-Speed Rails. China have been on a mighty offensive with their rain networks which makes sense given how broad their land is. They have more than 45,000 kilometres of high-speed rail. This is the longest HSR network in the world. I have heard many good things about this and that the premium cabins can be luxurious. I have been looking for an opportunity to check them out and to review them to see if they are really that comfortable. This allows you to zip around the country. Even the signature route between Beijing and Shanghai takes only more than 4 hours. That gives planes a real run for their money considering the time taken to travel to airports and 2 hours ahead. I have tried numerous High-Speed Trains product worldwide in Europe and Japan. I have shared these the previous time I travel from Chongqing to Chengdu. This time around I did it from Suzhou to Hangzhou and got a lot of nice photos of the cabin which I intend to share.
Booking China HSR Tickets
China HSR tickets can be booked via various platforms. The two most recommended ones would be the Railway 12306 app or via Trip.com. I would say that the Railway 12306 offers more information such as the types of trains and seats availability but the interface is better for those who know Chinese. It is also much harder to set up an account. I had some difficulties doing so. I use Trip.com instead and they have an international version of the app which works very well. This is a China-based OTA. I love their customer service which is very prompt and efficient. They do cost a little more with their booking fee. China’s top-tier High-Speed Trains have 4 different cabins. They are Business Class, Premier Class, First Class and Second Class. Some trains might have either Business Class or Premier Class. Booking a ticket on Trip.com is very easy. I would recommend you to pre-verify your details first as it helps with the ticketing. Your tickets will be issued faster. China HSR tickets open up for booking 14 days ahead. I hope that you can buy it much ahead. On the app, you can see the date and time that the ticket will be open for booking.
You can also make a reservation if the tickets are not yet open for booking on Trip.com. The payment will be collected immediately and they will help you make the booking once they open up. If the booking is not successful, you will be refunded in full. There is usually still a time lag and before they can book it for you, the tickets are already taken. I would prefer just doing it myself right on the dot. Have your passport details and credit card saved to make it faster.
Buying high-speed rail train tickets in China is rather challenging and complicated especially if you want to take a particular train and time. The G trains are the fastest. I wanted the Fuxing Train which are the latest and newest models. Trip.com does not show this information so you will have to cross refer to Railway 12306. Do also take note of the different railway stations in the city. For example, there are 4 train stations in Chongqing.
One thing I hate about booking tickets online for China HSR is the seating. They don’t allow you or promise you the seats you want. You might not be seated together. This can be rather weird for business class given how limited the seats are. For my first booking, we got 1 seat at cabin 1 and 1 seat at cabin 8! That is on the opposite end of the train. You can only trial and error. Thankfully, I made another booking and we are in the same cabin but still seated separately. Do take note that while they advertised free cancellation before your train departs, it is still subjected to a small admin fee. E-tickets are provided for booking via Trip.com so that is very easy. You simply board with your ID. More on this later on.
Arrival
I would recommend arriving about an hour early at the train station especially if it is your first time there. China rail stations can be huge and it is chaotic. Much more time might be needed during holidays and the festive period. It takes time to walk to the gates and the pick-up/drop-off area. Do look out for the exclusive entrance for Business Class holders. There are always priority lines for security checks and ticket checks.
Business Class Lounge
The business class lounge is a perk for business class ticket holders to wait for their train. It can be found in major train stations across China. This is a great perk as the stations are always very busy and chaotic. You can find signs guiding you easily to the lounge. It will be nothing fantastic but still beats the general waiting area.
Boarding
When you purchase the ticket the boarding gate will also be shown on the app and your ticket. Do make sure to head to the gate early as boarding starts around 30 minutes before your departing time. The crowds here are epic. I am not sure how they board everyone in time. Make sure to queue up early if you are not in business class as only business class gets priority lines. In fact, for foreigners, we will not be able to use the automated counters and you will have to queue up at the manual lines. One of the best perks of business class is the complimentary escort service that is offered. A dedicated staff will bring you to the boarding gate and help you with the process. This is very handy for foreign travellers and those who are unfamiliar with the station. Simply head to the lounge for this benefit. After the staff verify your ticket which is your ID, simply head down and board the train. You will know which cabin and door to use to easily find your seats. All of the seats on China High-Speed Trains are assigned.
China HSR Business Class
Conclusion
I would recommend trying out the Business Class if you are planning a trip to China on the High-Speed Trains. They are a treat and a very comfortable way to travel. Prices are very decent and worth the premium for a comfortable trip between cities. It is not so much the price but rather the hassle of booking the ticket. Business Class tickets are high in demand and there is only a limited amount of seats per train. You can find them taken up in a matter of minutes. While I have great things to say about the trains and product, I can’t say the same about the booking system and procedure. It is such a hassle and not foreign-friendly. I wish they could learn from the Japanese Shinkansen and the SmartEx system. There are too many platforms and rules around the China HSR. The best way I will recommend will be through Trip.com which is more expensive.
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