Tips for Foreign Passport Holders on Checking in and Boarding China Railway High Speed Train

Arrive early at the station, present your passport and booking number (if you reserved online) for manual check and l ticket. Foreign passport holders cannot use the automatic ticket check machines. Be award of boarding gate closing time.

[@bohsengchua7122]

Points to be noted for fellow travellers with related to Security check: it is carried out at entrance to departure hall .. unlike some prohibited items which can be carried in checked-in baggage for air travellers, knifes with blade longer than 6cm will be confiscated on the spot, though owner can claim the item within seven days ... Ironically, lists of prohibited items is displayed AFTER security check point

[@EthanWanderingWonders]

Good points! Thanks!👍🏽

[@EthanWanderingWonders]

For people having questions about "cabin luggage", here is what China Rail official website (English Q&A) says - - 6. What is the limitation of free cabin luggage? The maximum limit of free cabin luggage for each passenger are: 10 kg for children (including those free of tickets), 35 kg for diplomats and 20 kg for other passengers. The maximum dimension of each item is 160 cm in total (rod-shaped items 200 cm) for traditional trains, and 130 cm for EMU trains; the maximum weight for each item is 20kg. Foldable wheelchairs used by people with disabilities are not included in the above range. A personal note: the term "cabin luggage" sounds equivalent to "Carry-on bag" for air travel in the U.S.

[@bohsengchua7122]

I am a Singaporean residing in Mainland China, few months ago my wife and I travelled on China High Speed Rail twice in return trips ... As a foreigner I didn't obtain physical paper ticket at the station, passed through the final check point before boarding ... Both trips tickets were booked online .. Total ticketless travel .. Carriage, seat number and all relevant details sent to my handphone

[@EthanWanderingWonders]

Thank you for the comment! A very timely note!👍🏽

[@CarlBencurtis]

Hi Sir. Please provide details how and which website you book online tickets as I want to visit china for first time. Thank you.

[@bohsengchua7122]

@@CarlBencurtis Essentially the key issue is the paperless payment of tickets .. which at that moment I didn't have .. so the outgoing tickets actually booked by the wife's relatives .. the return tickets were booked at the counter, which Alipay was accepted, cash payment was also accepted at manual counter

[@CarlBencurtis]

@@bohsengchua7122 thanks

[@EthanWanderingWonders]

@@CarlBencurtis following message is what I replied to viewer @joshuahomme 1 2 days ago, which should be able to help you. The website, in English and Chinese, is the official web portal for booking and getting answer to frequently asked questions. Alternatively, you may download the official app on your smart phone. The app is Railway12306. Here is the long answer - - , there are 5 ways to book the China Rail's high speed train ticket as listed by China Rail's Official website (www.12306.cn/en/index.html). Choose whichever is easiest or most convenient for you. However, buying tickets at Beijing’s station on the day of travel may not be the best time because it's not for sure there would be tickets available. Speaking of Alipay, Alipay backed by international credit card can be used. At Website www.12306.cn/en/index.html, there is Quick Guide section, which covers the following FAQs (a) What ID documents are accepted by 12306.cn English website? (b) What is endorsement (c) What services does 12306.cn English website provide? (d) What are the rules of ticket endorsement?, and more. This is official China Railway Website - customer portal. Have a pleasant journey!

[@EthanWanderingWonders]

You need to scan your passport, not your train ticket to check in and get on to your train platform. You again scan the passport when you arrive at your destination to exit the train platform. Pretty straightforward, you will realize that once you’ve done it once.

[@michaelcharlie2967]

Thank for your tips. I want to buy train ticket o 12306 before I come to China but I don't have Chinese phone number ? Can I buy the train ticket ?

[@EthanWanderingWonders]

That’s a good question. However, the official website “railway12306” doesn’t say that prospective passengers need to use a phone with a China’s number. You may be asked to provide a phone number, probably as a contact number, not a ID method. I would suggest you try out the online booking process and see if any issues, if at all, might come up. If you book at a station, the process should be even easier.

[@qqx154]

Thank you for your info. Is it a good alternative foe the plane? Can you bring a large suitcase with you? And do they check them in?

[@EthanWanderingWonders]

Thank you for the excellent questions. It can be more convenient than flying. Imaging I am in the following situation - I am in Shanghai for whatever reason one day, and I need to fly to another city in China the same day. But the next flight would only arrive at my planed arrival city at very late into the night due layover time or some other reasons, and the arrival airport is far from my home or hotel. Taking the next flight would be very inconvenient to me. Compared to flying, taking high speed train is simple. There are many tickets available and security scan is very simple and fast, you can carry suitcases - large or small, seats are comfortable. Traveling time between two cities probably longer for high speed train than that for airplane, but the train stops in the city where there are taxi, many transportation modes are readily available while airport usually far away. Therefore more likely you would get home or your chosen hotel much earlier than midnight. Don't hesitate to let me know if I miss something in my response. I will be very happy to discuss the topic more.

[@EthanWanderingWonders]

🚅💌 This message should be helpful for travelers who are thinking of booking China Highspeed Rail ticket in advance. Hi, everybody, thank you for visiting my channel. The website, in English and Chinese, is the official web portal for booking and getting answers to frequently asked questions. Alternatively, you may download the official app on your smart phone. The app is Railway12306. Here is the long answer - - there are 5 ways to book the China Rail's high speed train ticket as listed by China Rail's Official website (www.12306.cn/en/index.html). Choose whichever is easiest or most convenient for you. However, buying tickets at Beijing’s station (or any railway station) on the day of travel may not be the best time because it's not for sure there would be tickets available. Speaking of Alipay, Alipay backed by international credit card can be used. At Website www.12306.cn/en/index.html, there is Quick Guide section, which covers the following FAQs (a) What ID documents are accepted by 12306.cn English website? (b) What is endorsement (c) What services does 12306.cn English website provide? (d) What are the rules of ticket endorsement?, and more. This is official China Railway Website - customer portal. Have a pleasant journey!

[@sylai3483]

Thank you for the video and handy tips. The last time I took the high speed train was in 2019. It all comes back to mind.

[@EthanWanderingWonders]

I am glad you like the video. Thanks!

[@alcoholmage]

What is the luggage policy? How much luggage you can bring?

[@EthanWanderingWonders]

Hi @alcoholmage, I carried a small suitcase and a backpack with me riding the high speed train, without any issues, last time. That is my personal experience. To actually answer your questions, I found the following statement, at the English Q& A section of www.12306.cn/en/ --- 6. What is the limitation of free cabin luggage? The maximum limit of free cabin luggage for each passenger are: 10 kg for children (including those free of tickets), 35 kg for diplomats and 20 kg for other passengers. The maximum dimension of each item is 160 cm in total (rod-shaped items 200 cm) for traditional trains, and 130 cm for EMU trains; the maximum weight for each item is 20kg. Foldable wheelchairs used by people with disabilities are not included in the above range. I hope this helps.

[@alcoholmage]

@@EthanWanderingWonders Thank you!

[@EthanWanderingWonders]

You need to scan your passport, not your train ticket to check in and get on to your train platform. You again scan the passport when you arrive at your destination to exit the train platform. Pretty straightforward, you will realize that once you’ve done it once.

[@Qantz]

Thank you! No one else provided such important info.

[@EthanWanderingWonders]

You're so welcome! I'm glad you found the information helpful.

[@joshuahomme1]

Hi Ethan. We are going to China on September from the US. Is there an easy way to book the high speed train from Beijing to Shanghai? Does Alipay require a Chinese bank account? A little confused 😕 if we decide to buy it at the station, wondering if tickets will be sold out

[@EthanWanderingWonders]

Hi @joshuahomme1, there are 5 ways to book the China Rail's high speed train ticket as listed by China Rail's Official website (www.12306.cn/en/index.html). Choose whichever is easiest or most convenient for you. However, buying tickets at Beijing’s station on the day of travel may not be the best time because it's not for sure there would be tickets available. Speaking of Alipay, Alipay backed by international credit card can be used. At Website www.12306.cn/en/index.html, there is Quick Guide section, which covers the following FAQs (a) What ID documents are accepted by 12306.cn English website? (b) What is endorsement (c) What services does 12306.cn English website provide? (d) What are the rules of ticket endorsement?, and more. This is official China Railway Website - customer portal. Have a pleasant journey!

[@joshuahomme1]

@@EthanWanderingWonders thank you very much . I appreciate the information

[@EthanWanderingWonders]

@@joshuahomme1 You're most welcome!

[@hasnae5285]

hi i have a question i need to travel to another city soon but i sent my passport to my embassy as i needed to renew it is there any way i can still travel without the physical copy of the passport or not

[@EthanWanderingWonders]

Thank you for visiting my channel and for the question. If you are talking about traveling by train, I know that nowadays after having your ticket you no longer have to show it to board the train but you are required to use personal ID - passport in your case - to board. So, you might have to get a temporary ID. I read somewhere on internet, some Chinese people say, you could go to the train station (I assume with your passport and your ticket), and get a temporary ID from the station police. I wish I knew more so I could help you more. Good luck and have a pleasant journey.

[@hasnae5285]

@@EthanWanderingWonders thank you for the help i highly apreciate it

[@EthanWanderingWonders]

@@hasnae5285 🤝