Travelling by train in China can feel intimidating at first, but once you understand how the system works, it quickly becomes one of the easiest and most efficient ways to get around the country. China’s high-speed rail network is modern, fast and surprisingly traveller-friendly, even if you do not speak the language.
This guide covers what Chinese train stations are really like, how classes and boarding work and a few simple tips that remove most of the stress.
Table of Contents
What Chinese Train Stations Are Like
Chinese train stations are large, busy and extremely organised.
What stood out to us most:
- Clear signage throughout stations
- Very clean facilities
- Most stations have European-style toilets
- Plenty of cafes, convenience stores and shops
Even in major cities, stations are designed to move huge numbers of people efficiently. Once you follow the flow, it all makes sense very quickly.
Train Classes Explained: Second Class, First Class and Business Class
Chinese high-speed trains usually offer three classes:
- Second Class
- First Class
- Business Class
We travelled Second Class for every journey, and for us, it was more than comfortable enough.
Second Class vs First Class
The main difference is seat layout, not comfort.
- Second Class: 3 seats on one side, 2 on the other
- First Class: 2 seats on each side
As we are 5 ft 4, we found plenty of legroom and space in Second Class. The layout never bothered us, even on longer journeys.
Unless you want extra space or a quieter cabin, Second Class is excellent value.
Understanding Carriages, Colours and Boarding Lines
This is the part that causes the most confusion — but it is actually very logical.
Each carriage is associated with a colour, which is not always shown in English.
How to do it step by step:
- Take a photo of the departure board
- Run it through your translator app
- Look for the carriage colour (for example Yellow, Brown or Blue)
At the train gate:
- Look at the ground
- You will see three coloured lines
- Each colour matches a carriage group
Stand on the line that matches your carriage colour and you are in the right place.
Tohu Tip:
If you are unsure, go to one of the station police officers, point at the colours on the ground, then point to your ticket. You will get a grunt and a finger point — and that is all you need.
Using Translator Apps in Stations
A translator app is essential when travelling by train in China.
We found WeChat’s translator, under the Scan function, especially helpful for:
- Reading departure boards
- Identifying carriage colours
- Translating signs quickly
Google Translate’s camera function also works well.
Booking Trains with Trip.com (And Why It Eases Anxiety)
One of the biggest worries when planning train travel in China is availability.
Train tickets cannot be booked far in advance, which can feel stressful if you like having your itinerary locked in.
How Trip.com helps
Trip.com allows you to:
- Place the booking request early
- Then automatically secure the ticket as soon as bookings open
We were always notified:
- When bookings opened
- When tickets were confirmed
Despite our fears, every booking was confirmed without issue.
Exiting Stations and Avoiding Taxi Scams
When you exit a train station or airport in China, you will usually walk into a wall of taxi and Didi drivers.
Our advice is simple: do not use them.
A few things to know:
- Taxis may use the meter and then add random charges
- Even if you agree on a price, extras often appear
- Some people claiming to be Didi drivers are not legitimate
Real Didi drivers do not stand at station exits.
They are already in their cars and arrive once you place the booking in the app.
Which exit should you take?
Honestly, we rarely knew which exit was “correct” — and it didn’t really matter.
We simply:
- Picked an exit
- Walked out
- Ordered a Didi
- Let the driver do the rest
Maybe exit choice makes a difference in some cases, but for us, not overthinking it made things far less stressful.
Final Tohu Tip
Don’t aim for perfect, aim for calm.
China’s train system looks overwhelming, but once you trust the process and use your tools, it becomes surprisingly easy.
🔗 More China Travel Guides
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🌍 Travel Planning Resources
These are the tools we personally use and trust when planning our travels from finding a place to stay to booking activities, transport and insurance. Let your Tohu guide you — Trust the Journey and follow what feels right for you.
- ✈️Flights – Compare great deals with Trip.com then Kiwi.com for flexible, affordable options.
- 🚐 Campervans – Compare rental deals with Motorhome Republic across Aotearoa and beyond.
- 🛏️ Stays – Compare hotels on Trip.com and TripAdvisor or Booking.com.
- 🚐 Rental Cars – Compare prices and book through Airport Rentals by Motorhome Republic for trusted brands and easy airport pickup.
- 🎟️ Activities – Browse tours and experiences on Viator, Get Your Guide, or TripAdvisor
- 🚆12Go Asia – Compare and book trains, buses, and ferries across Asia in one place with 12Go.
- 🛡️ Travel Insurance – Get flexible short-term coverage with Insubuy for your next holiday.
- 🔒 Protect Your Privacy with a VPN – We recommend Surfshark VPN for secure and private browsing while travelling. It’s fast, affordable and works worldwide — perfect for public Wi-Fi at airports, cafes and hotels.
- 📱 Travel eSIM – Stay connected with Airalo
- 💼 Lounge Access – Treat yourself with Priority Pass – for UK or US
- 🎶 Events & Concerts – Book tickets worldwide through Ticketmaster.
🧭 Note: Some booking links can be a bit shy when you’re using a VPN. If one doesn’t open, try pausing your VPN or switching to a different server location or secure Wi-Fi network to get things flowing again.
“Travel becomes easier the moment you stop fearing the unknown and start trusting the journey.”