Whether you are new to the city or not, join us as we explore helpful tips and information on buying train tickets and traveling by train in China.

There are several major railway stations in Shanghai, including Shanghai Railway Station, Shanghai South Railway Station (or Shanghainan Railway Station), Shanghai West Railway Station (or Shanghaixi Railway Station) and Shanghai Hongqiao Railway.

All you need to buy a ticket at the service window is your passport. If you want to buy tickets on your mobile phone, you must download the Railway 12306 (铁路12306)  app.

Register and log in, and set the language to English. Then enter your departure location, destination, and departure date to search for tickets.

 

You can reserve a ticket for the train you want to take, fill in the personal information of all passengers, choose seats, and finally submit your order and pay.

In the past, traveling by train often involved the hassle of waiting in long queues to collect paper tickets before boarding. However, the introduction of e-ticket services has streamlined the process, saving passengers significant time.

With e-tickets, there's no longer a need for paper tickets when checking in at the station or boarding the train. Now, all you need to do is swipe your passport or foreign permanent residence card at the automatic check-in machines or present it at the manual ticket inspection gate to board your train.

If you want to change the time or date of your ticket, you can do so at one of the service windows labeled "改签兼退票" (pronounced gǎi qiān jiān tùi piào, meaning "change and refund").

There is no fee if changes are made over 48 hours before departure, or changes made 24 to 48 hours before departure if switching to a train departing before 00:00 on the departure date.

If you buy your ticket online, you can change it via the Railway 12306 app.

And of course, if there's anything you are unsure about, you can go to the railway inquiry counter to ask.

Moreover, if you miss your train, you will have one opportunity to switch to a new train to your destination on the same day.

You are advised to arrive at the railway station at least 30 minutes prior to your train's scheduled departure.

At every train station, a security check is required to enter. Most train stations have multiple entrances and ticket checking gates. To avoid missing your train, please leave ample time to pass through security.

Here are some common questions about buying train tickets:

Q: What train classes are available?

A: Common classes include Second Class, First Class, and Business Class on high-speed trains, as well as Hard Seat, Soft Seat, Hard Sleeper, and Soft Sleeper on slower trains.

Q: Can I buy tickets for others?

A: At the station, you can buy tickets for others at the ticket counter by taking the original or copy of the passenger's valid ID document with you.

On the Railway 12306 app, registered users with their ID information "verified" and "ready to be verified" can buy tickets for themselves or others.

Q: What if I lose my passport?

A: If you lose your passport, find a police station (there is one in every station) and inform them of your situation. If you have a photo of your passport ID, show it to them so they can assist you better.

Q: What if I miss my stop?

A: If you are on the train and miss your stop, there's no need to panic. Get off at the next station and immediately alert staff of your situation and show them your ID and itinerary. They will arrange for you to get on the next train back to your original destination, free of any additional charge.

Q: What to do if I lose my luggage?

A: If you are still at the train station and find that your luggage has been lost, go to the information desk, tell them your situation, give them a copy of your itinerary and show them your ID. If you have any idea where your luggage was lost, tell them and they will assist you.

If you have already left the station, you can use the 12306 app or call the hotline at 12306 to report your lost belongings. All you need to do is provide your itinerary and ID information. If your belongings are found, they will contact you by telephone.

Q: Are there discounts for children?

A: An adult passenger can be accompanied by one child under six years old, free of charge. If you are traveling with more than one child, only one of them can ride for free, while the others must have child tickets, which are half the price of adult tickets.

Child tickets can be purchased for children between the ages of 6 and 14, while those older than 14 require full-price tickets.

Q: Are there luggage restrictions on trains?

A: Yes, there are luggage restrictions. Typically, you can bring up to 20 kg of luggage for free, and the sum of the length, width, and height of each piece of luggage must not exceed 160 centimeters. For bullet trains, each piece must not exceed 130 cm in total dimensions.

Q: How can I print an e-ticket itinerary sheet?

After buying railway e-tickets on Railway 12306 app, you can print or download the "itinerary sheet", or have it printed at designated ticket counters or automatic ticketing machines at the stations.

 

Source: 12306.cn