Train Travel In China

Train travel in China is very safe and the trains are very good.

Arrive at the station at least 45 mins before departure, they will let you start boarding the train 30 mins before departure. When you enter the station (ticket required to enter station) look for your train number on the departure board and it will indicate your waiting room number. Go to this waiting room and at the appropriate time everyone is directed to the train.

Trains are safe but prepare to be stared at especially if you are a white western woman. Speaking Chinese is not necessary at all, though it helps alot if you make the effort to write the ticket you want in chinese character before heading to the station to buy your ticket. Odds are if you don't speak any chinese then you will mispronounce your destination name.

For very long trips, bring some food, snacks, noodles etc... Bring enough to share with your compartment buddies as they will most likely offer to share with you. For sleeper cars, the provodnitsa (wtv they are called in Chinese) will collect everyone's tickets and give you in return a card with your bunk number. They are suppose to wake you up and return you your ticket a little bit before your stop. This doesn't always happen however so you need to be alert near your arrival time. Try to check with your compartment buddies, odds are one of them is getting off in the same place as you.

Important: pack toilet paper.