Most first-time China train mistakes come from a few small habits: arriving late, forgetting the passport, picking the wrong station and booking too late. All are easy to fix with a little planning.
If you worry about getting it wrong in a country where signs are in Chinese, you are in good company. Here are the mistakes, with the fix for each.
Mistake one: leaving the passport in a bag
Foreigners show a passport to buy a long-distance ticket and to pass the platform gates, because travel is ticketless[1]. Keep it in one pocket you can reach with one hand.
Mistake two: arriving at the last minute
Expect X-ray bag checks at station entrances, and arrive 30 to 40 minutes before departure at major stations[2]. Our guide to arrival time buffers gives a calmer rule of thumb.
Mistake three: booking too late
Tickets usually go on sale 15 days before departure and cannot be bought earlier[3]. Popular trains sell out near holidays, so plan to buy on the first day you can.
Mistake four: forgetting to verify first
Foreigners can verify their details on 12306 and buy tickets there[4]. Set up and verify the account at home, not at the station. Our booking guide for Malaysians covers each step.
Mistake five: choosing the wrong station
Big cities have more than one station. Read the name on the ticket and match it to your hotel. A wrong choice can turn a short ride into a long transfer.
Mistake six: packing too heavily
The official luggage limit is 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[5]. See our luggage guide for packing ideas.
Mistake seven: no plan B
Plans can slip. Know how to change a ticket by reading changing or refunding a ticket, and build slack into the day.
What should you do next?
Tick off the seven fixes above, then read the station security and boarding guide. If you want a second pair of eyes on your route, message us.