A Chinese high-speed station works like a small airport that runs on time. You pass a bag X-ray at the entrance, wait in a hall, show your passport at the gate and walk to the platform. Each step is simple once you know the order.
If the sight of a huge station and a screen full of Chinese makes you uneasy, take this page as a walk-through before the day.
What is the order of the day?
From outside to your seat, the order is the same at most stations. Knowing it keeps everyone calm.
- Enter the station through the bag X-ray at the entrance.
- Find your train on the departure screen and note the waiting hall.
- Wait in the hall until boarding opens.
- Show your passport at the platform gate.
- Walk to your carriage and find your seat.
Take your time at each point rather than rushing from one to the next.
What happens at security?
Expect X-ray bag checks at station entrances[1]. Put bags on the belt, walk through, and collect them on the other side.
Keep your passport in hand because you will need it again soon. If someone in your group moves slowly, let them go first so you can wait together on the far side.
How early should you arrive?
At major stations, arrive 30 to 40 minutes before departure[1]. That covers the bag check, the walk to the hall and the queue at the gate.
Add extra time for grandparents, small children or heavy luggage. Our guide on how early to reach a Chinese station helps you set a buffer for each station.
Why does the gate want your passport?
Travel on these trains is ticketless, so the gate checks your document. Foreigners must show a passport to buy a long-distance ticket and to pass platform gates[2].
Use the passport you booked with. A mismatch can stop you at the gate, so check the name before you leave the hotel.
What about your bags?
Large bags are allowed within the official limit of 20 kg for adults and 10 kg for children, with each item at most 130 cm on C, D and G trains, though bags are rarely weighed[3]. Heavy suitcases still mean stairs and queues.
If you need a few hours before the train, read about luggage storage at stations. See also how much luggage high-speed trains allow.
How do you help family members?
Plan a calm route for everyone. Agree a meeting point inside the hall, give each person a copy of the carriage and seat number, and keep the passports with one person at each gate.
For children and strollers, see strollers and kids on trains. For walking difficulty, read about mobility-friendly transport. The getting around topic page links the rest.