Fu Lai Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 http://news.echinacities.com/detail/8237-Hot-Commodities-Tips-for-Booking-Train-Tickets-in-China Let's face it: buying train tickets in China can be a big, migraine-inducing pain in the butt;thanks to the "ingenious" policy of giving everyone in the countrysimultaneous vacations, travelling during a national holiday means thatyou're literally competing with hundreds of millions of others for thattiny, pink piece of paper they call a train ticket. But securing yourspot on a train doesn't necessarily mean camping outside a travel agencyuntil the first batch of pre-sale tickets go on sale (usually 10-20days before), or trying to suppress a bout of rage as every secondperson cuts you in line at the train station's ticket window. With a bitof tact, know-how and planning, your train ticket may just be a fewclicks or phone calls away. http://news.echinacities.com/userfiles/2012-Year/8-Month/29-Day/image001-.jpgPhoto: windhorsetour.comDifferent methods of buying train ticketsThere are four official ways to buy train tickets in China: online,via telephone, at a train station or through a travel agent. Let's take alook at each method in more detail:1) Online bookingsThere's only one website you need to know about for purchasing tickets online via legal channels: www.12306.cn.This is literally China's only official train ticket selling website;all others are not officially recognized and pose risks. However, theimmediately apparent drawback with using this site as a foreigner isthat no English version is available.Not only is this site good for bookings, but it also includes usefulinformation about timetables, number of tickets still available, infoabout delays etc.Step one is registering an account with the site, acquiring a username and entering your passport number (don't worry, ID numbers are required for just about everything these days in China). Once you've completed this step, you can browse and complete your online purchase by following the prompts. A real-name system is in place for all purchases through this website, regardless of whether you buy bullet, high-speed or regular train tickets and only one train ticket can be bought per trip per ID. However, additional children's tickets can be bought for the same trip using the same account name and ID. Ticket buying period: tickets can be bought from 07:00-23:00 any day of the week, and usually become available for purchase 20 days prior to departure. However, this frequently changes especially around major national holidays such as Spring Festival and there are also variations from station to station and city to city. To avoid disappointment, make sure to check out the pre-sale info here (ask your Chinese-speaking friend to help you if you can't read Chinese). Another thing to keep in mind is that tickets must be bought at least two hours before departure. Getting the ticket: once you've bought the ticket online you can go to any ticket agency or train station ticket window with your passport to pick up the ticket. Apart from train stations, all other ticket outlets will charge a 5 RMB fee when collecting the ticket.2) Telephone bookingsThis option is only available to those who can speak fluent Chinese, asthere are currently no English services offered by official ticketbooking hotlines. The number to call – regardless of which city you'relocated in – is 9510 5105.In Beijing, one person can purchase five seated tickets (but fivedifferent valid ID numbers are required) and three sleeper tickets(quoting three different valid ID numbers). In Shanghai and Guangzhou, amaximum of three tickets can be purchased per person (three differentvalid ID numbers), regardless of ticket type. In addition, Guangzhou hasa rule that if you book a ticket but don't pick it up or cancel it, youwill be barred from using the same ID number to book tickets in thefuture.Before booking tickets via this hotline, make sure to have your ID number, name of departure city and destination ready. Follow the automated prompts to book your ticket. Once you've input all the relevant info, you should get an automated message sent to your phone with an order number. You must show this number, together with your passport, when picking up the ticket. Advance bookings: Tickets can be booked 4-20 days before departure, but as mentioned earlier, exact pre-sale booking periods vary. Call 12306 to check the pre-sale booking period. Collecting tickets: As of January 1, those who book by telephone can pick up their tickets from any ticket office or train station in China. In addition, they will have an extra 12 hours to pick up their train tickets. Specifically, if you book before noon, you will have until noon the next day to pick up your tickets, while if you book after noon, you will have until midnight the next day to pick up your tickets. Also, as of January 4, the pre-sale period for online and telephone train ticket purchases been extended to 20 days, with a new batch of tickets being made available for purchase every hour from 08:00-18:00 (excluding 14:00). Please note that faster D train (动车) tickets will be available for purchase everyday starting at 11:00.To collect the ticket, simply go to the train station or ticket agency and present your passport and order number. An additional 5 RMB fee is charged at all travel agencies.3) Train stationsTrain tickets can be bought at stations ten days in advance. All ticketsbought at train stations require valid ID, regardless of the train type(high-speed, bullet, regular). Usually, tickets are available forpurchase right until the train's due departure, but obviously ticketsare subject to availability.4) Travel agenciesTickets can be bought through various types of travel agents:specialised train and plane booking agencies, hotels and guest houses.While most large hotels can arrange tickets for you, this option is moreexpensive, as they usually charge very high service fees for eachbooking. Regular travel agencies sell tickets up to ten days in advance(subject to change). These agencies are scattered throughout mostcities, and are a popular and convenient booking method. To secure aticket, just bring your passport with you; a modest 5 RMB service chargewill be added per ticket. However, expect long queues outside theseagencies around national holidays. The earlier you go stand in line, thehigher your chances of getting a ticket.Other useful tips:While www.12306.cn is the only official website for booking tickets, you can check other sites too for price and timetable info. Some reliable reference sites include http://train.qunar.com/ or http://lieche.58.com. Nationwide booking hotline is 9510 5105, but the customer service hotline number is 12306. Email inquiries can be sent to kyfw@12306.cn It goes without saying that buying a ticket from a non-official channel is a huge risk and scams are very common. Don't buy a ticket from a scalper at a train station no matter how tempting the option seems. Link to comment
Doug Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 I'll add that one can get a CARD passport along with the passport book here in the USA. You can't use the card from country to country, and it has a different number, but the Chinese teller doesnt care. Since I live in the USA and her in China, I left the card with her to be able to buy plane or train tickets as needed before I arrive to see her. Makes life easier. Link to comment
Randy W Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 I'll add that one can get a CARD passport along with the passport book here in the USA. You can't use the card from country to country, and it has a different number, but the Chinese teller doesnt care. Since I live in the USA and her in China, I left the card with her to be able to buy plane or train tickets as needed before I arrive to see her. Makes life easier. Do you mean the little passport card? http://travel.state.gov/images/updatepptcard.jpg Link to comment
Fu Lai Posted January 30, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 (edited) Those passport cards work in China? My girl just puts in my regular passport number and as usual, I show my passport when boarding. Edited January 30, 2013 by Fu Lai (see edit history) Link to comment
Guest ExChinaExpat Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 It's not difficult to get train tickets in China. I posted the link in another thread where you can check the schedules. If you have an American passport, you cannot use it on the machines. By far, the easiest way is to ask a Chinese person to assist your booking and have your tickets delivered to your location. The fees are generally small for delivery and run about 10 RMB. If you checked online and know your train number and city, you can go to the train station or outlet to get your ticket. Again, don't make the mistake of booking online if you only have a passport. The machines at the train station are not yet capable of reading the passport. You can give your passport number to a booking agent and have the ticket delivered, or you can go to the station yourself to get it. Book tickets in advance if you can, especially this time of year. Link to comment
Fu Lai Posted January 30, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 If you don't speak or read Chinese it can be hell getting tickets. Besides the links given in the first post I use http://www.chinatrainguide.com/ as a guide. But I always have a Chinese person do the booking for me because I have little language ability and once you get into having to pick another train/time because of availability you really need to see it in English. Getting tickets is not difficult but getting the tickets you want can be. Link to comment
Guest ExChinaExpat Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 If you don't speak or read Chinese it can be hell getting tickets. Besides the links given in the first post I use http://www.chinatrainguide.com/ as a guide. But I always have a Chinese person do the booking for me because I have little language ability and once you get into having to pick another train/time because of availability you really need to see it in English. Getting tickets is not difficult but getting the tickets you want can be. I think the difficulty in getting a train ticket in China is more the intimidation factor than anything else. First, you're going to stand in a long line with a lot of impatient Chinese people who are also waiting. I am far from fluent in Chinese, but I know to take my passport with me. All one need do is go online and find the train number they want to take, the date, departure time, and destination. Write it on a piece of paper, in pinyin: for example: Train #: G-737125/02/2013Nanjing Nan Zhan > Shanghai Hongqiao When you present the paper, also hand them your passport. The clerk will present the computer screen to you, which is not difficult to read. It shows the train numbers and available times. Hand them the cash, and you get the ticket and any change. After you do it once, you will feel a lot more confident and realize that it's not at all difficult. Link to comment
Fu Lai Posted January 30, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 Yes, of course then you have many places that don't let you look at the screen to see availability, they just shake their head no at the info you wrote down. My plight twice. Not being able to communicate with them is my fault but it ended with me being out of luck. So in comes the Chinese friend and BINGO they are able to ask all the questions to make it work. Online it is rather easy except it is all in Chinese. Bottom line it is not tough at all and their train system is good but knowing some Chinese or having a friend/helper is a big asset especially when your first choice is a no-go. If you don't speak or read Chinese it can be hell getting tickets. Besides the links given in the first post I use http://www.chinatrainguide.com/ as a guide. But I always have a Chinese person do the booking for me because I have little language ability and once you get into having to pick another train/time because of availability you really need to see it in English. Getting tickets is not difficult but getting the tickets you want can be. I think the difficulty in getting a train ticket in China is more the intimidation factor than anything else. First, you're going to stand in a long line with a lot of impatient Chinese people who are also waiting. I am far from fluent in Chinese, but I know to take my passport with me. All one need do is go online and find the train number they want to take, the date, departure time, and destination. Write it on a piece of paper, in pinyin: for example: Train #: G-737125/02/2013Nanjing Nan Zhan > Shanghai Hongqiao When you present the paper, also hand them your passport. The clerk will present the computer screen to you, which is not difficult to read. It shows the train numbers and available times. Hand them the cash, and you get the ticket and any change. After you do it once, you will feel a lot more confident and realize that it's not at all difficult. Link to comment
Guest ExChinaExpat Posted January 30, 2013 Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 You gotta be a little bold to live and function in China. If you get to the window and the clerk can't speak English and is impatient with you, and you can't seem to get what you want then, Speak loudly to the crowd and ask whether someone speaks English and can help you. You'd be surprised to see how many willing young people will come to your aid. Link to comment
Fu Lai Posted January 30, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2013 Exactly. As I wrote in another thread there are many people in China with at least passing English skills that will gladly help out.You gotta be a little bold to live and function in China. If you get to the window and the clerk can't speak English and is impatient with you, and you can't seem to get what you want then, Speak loudly to the crowd and ask whether someone speaks English and can help you. You'd be surprised to see how many willing young people will come to your aid. Link to comment
Thomas Promise Posted January 31, 2013 Report Share Posted January 31, 2013 For future reference. http://www.chinahighlights.com/china-trains/ http://www.travelchinaguide.com/china-trains/ Link to comment
Doug Posted January 31, 2013 Report Share Posted January 31, 2013 I'll add that one can get a CARD passport along with the passport book here in the USA. You can't use the card from country to country, and it has a different number, but the Chinese teller doesnt care. Since I live in the USA and her in China, I left the card with her to be able to buy plane or train tickets as needed before I arrive to see her. Makes life easier. Do you mean the little passport card? http://travel.state.gov/images/updatepptcard.jpgYES that kind of passport card. It is just a clerk behind the window, and it always works, whether read or he types in the number. No not work in the machine, as far as I know, but I think she tried it. We discovered this one time when I simply forgot to bring my passport but had that card in my billfold. It worked baby, so I left it with her and she has all tickets in hand when I arrive. Link to comment
Fu Lai Posted February 1, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2013 Did exactly this today and the Chinese guy right behind me helped finish the job!You gotta be a little bold to live and function in China. If you get to the window and the clerk can't speak English and is impatient with you, and you can't seem to get what you want then, Speak loudly to the crowd and ask whether someone speaks English and can help you. You'd be surprised to see how many willing young people will come to your aid. Link to comment
MarineClimateLover Posted February 14, 2013 Report Share Posted February 14, 2013 The easiest way to take the train in China is to fly. (And really, within China, it's not much more expensive.) Link to comment
Fu Lai Posted February 14, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2013 The easiest way to take the train in China is to fly. (And really, within China, it's not much more expensive.) Actually it's usually twice as expensive to fly. Link to comment
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