China's rail network is the fastest way between cities, but the booking systems assume you have a Chinese phone number and a Chinese payment app. This section explains how foreign visitors actually book high-speed rail and domestic flights, and how to get from the airport to your hotel without overpaying.
Ticketing rules and booking windows change often. Each guide states the date it was last checked and links to the official source.
- How to book China high-speed rail tickets in 2026 (12306 English guide)
Updated 12 September 2026 · Book direct with a foreign passport — release window, e-ticket boarding, and the official refund and change fee tiers
- Beijing airport to city — PEK vs PKX transfer guide
Updated 14 September 2026 · Capital Airport Express (CNY 25), Daxing Airport Express to Caoqiao, shuttle buses, fares, hours and payment for foreign visitors
- Shanghai airport to city — PVG vs SHA transfer guide
Updated 17 September 2026 · Pudong and Hongqiao metro lines, the Airport Link Line between the two airports, maglev, taxi ranks, fares, hours, and how to pay as a visitor
- Guangzhou airport to city — T3 intercity, metro and shuttle guide
Updated 22 September 2026 · Terminal 1 has closed for rebuilding, so arrival works differently: the intercity railway into T3, the metro-plus-shuttle route via Gaozeng, city buses, taxi queues and current fares
- Chengdu airport to city — Tianfu, Shuangliu, metro and bus
Updated 24 September 2026 · Metro Line 18 and 19, airport buses and coaches, using the airport's own published fares
- Shenzhen airport to city — metro Line 11, taxis, buses and coaches
Updated 25 September 2026 · Metro Line 11 stations and first trains, distance-based fares, taxi and ride-hailing pick-up points, city buses, airport express coaches and cross-border links
- Chongqing airport to city — metro Line 10 and Line 3, the K01 express bus and coaches
Updated 26 September 2026 · Metro Line 10 and Line 3 airport stations, first and last trains, distance-based fares, the K01 express bus to Jiefangbei, long-distance coaches and car-park rates
- China train seat classes — the official list and what each class decides
Updated 26 September 2026 · The eleven seat classes named in China Railway's own passenger-transport regulations, the ordinary-versus-EMU split, and the child, student, change and refund rules attached to each class
- Guilin airport to city — shuttles, taxis and buses
Transport · 2 Oct 2026
- Hong Kong to Shenzhen — the nine land crossings, their hours and the rules
Transport · 3 Oct 2026
- Hong Kong high-speed rail — tickets, changes, refunds and luggage
Transport · 8 Oct 2026
- Hangzhou airport to the city — metro, taxi and coach
Transport · 21 Oct 2026
- Train or fly in China — how to choose between them
Transport · 24 Oct 2026
- China train luggage rules — what you can bring onboard
Transport · 26 Oct 2026
- China train tickets for children — age, height and discount rules
Transport · 27 Oct 2026
- China train e-tickets — what you show at the gate, and what is not a ticket
Transport · 28 Oct 2026