China Transport Guide

High-Speed Rail (高铁 - Gaotie)

China's High-Speed Rail is a modern marvel. It's often faster, cheaper, and more convenient than flying. Trains run at 300-350 km/h (186-217 mph) and are impeccably punctual.

How to Book Tickets

Foreigners have two reliable ways to book train tickets:

• Trip.com App: The easiest and most reliable method in English. It charges a tiny convenience fee but saves you headaches.
• 12306 Official App: Now available in English. No fees, but verification can occasionally be glitchy for foreign passports.

Boarding with a Passport

There are no physical tickets!

Your passport is your ticket. When you arrive at the train station security and the boarding gate, you simply hand your physical passport to the staff member in the manual lane (usually the far left or far right aisle), or place it on the passport scanner.

Ride-Hailing with DiDi (滴滴)

Uber does not exist in China. The dominant ride-hailing app is DiDi. It is incredibly cheap, safe, and efficient.

• No Standalone App Needed: Open your Alipay app, search for "DiDi", and use the Mini Program. The interface will automatically translate to English.
• Auto-Translation: The in-app chat translates your English messages into Chinese for the driver, and vice-versa.
• Payment: Rides are automatically deducted from your linked Visa/Mastercard via Alipay when the ride finishes.

Metros and Subways

Every major Chinese city has an extensive, modern, and cheap subway system. Signs and ticket machines always have an English option.

• Alipay Transport Code: The easiest way to ride. In Alipay, tap "Transport", select the city you are in, and generate a QR code to scan at the turnstile.
• Apple Pay (Transit): You can add a Shanghai or Beijing transit card directly to your Apple Wallet. It works even if your phone battery dies (Express Transit mode).