When to Buy

Pre-sale time of China railway tickets is now 60 days prior to departure on the official website of China Railway Corporation and through phone, and 58 days prior at railway stations and other outlets. Although the pre-sale time has been extended much longer than before, it is advised to book as early as possible, especially for long-distance rides and hot routes, and during peak travel seasons like Chinese New Year and National Day holiday (Oct. 1 - 7), as they may be sold out within minutes once put on sale.

 What's the Requirements

As real-name policy and identity verification are adopted, one’s valid ID certificate like passport, Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macau Residents, or Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents is required when booking, purchasing, or collecting a ticket.

 Where to Buy

 Online Booking Agency:

This is the most practical and convenient channel for foreign passengers who speak little Chinese. Also, there is no limitation of pre-sale time and they can make an order even months prior to departure once the travel plan is settled; the agency will handle the booking when available.

Yunnan Adventure Travel(YAT) offers train ticket booking service in English. Our professional booking operators are always ready to solve any problems you meet during your trip. We will make sure you enjoy a secure booking and payment (YAT accepts Paypal and Western Union). After issued, tickets will be delivered to your China addresses. If you prefer to collect the tickets at railway stations by yourself, we will provide step by step instructions on how to collect and related documents to aid you. Book at Yunnan Adventure Travel.com

Railway Stations:

Passengers can purchase at any railway station in Mainland China at most 58 days prior to departure. One problem is that only staff in metropolises like Beijing and Shanghai may speak English while most staff behind the window speaks only Chinese; another problem is that there may be long queues in the offices, especially during peak seasons.