1. Search for your train
Open Trip.com/Ctrip, select domestic trains, enter the departure and destination stations, choose your date, and compare train services.
2. Enter passenger details
Select the train and seat class, enter the passenger name and identity document details exactly as shown on the passport, and check the booking information before payment.
3. Pay for the order
The example fare is CNY 334. The screenshots show optional payment discounts and a CNY 20 wallet balance, reducing the amount paid by bank card. Offers vary and may not be available to every traveler.
4. Check whether the ticket has actually been issued
A successful payment does not always mean that the railway ticket has been issued. Open the order details and check the ticket status. If it still says that an agent is purchasing the ticket, wait for the issuance confirmation.
5. What if the ticket has not been issued?
In the example, the traveler opened the official in-app train ticket support chat and tapped “我要催出票” (urge ticket issuance). Support acknowledged the request and said it had been expedited. This is a follow-up request, not a guarantee that a seat will be issued.
6. Find your train and board
After the ticket is issued, check the train number, date, station, carriage, seat, and boarding gate. The example shows G143 from Beijing South to Xuzhou East, with carriage 08, seat 01F and gate information. Gate information can change, so follow the station screens and announcements.
7. On Board the High-Speed Train: Real Videos
These two short videos were filmed after boarding a Chinese high-speed train. They show what the train looks like inside, so first-time visitors know what to expect once they find their carriage and seat.
Video 1 — Inside the train
Video 2 — Passenger seating area
Frequently asked questions
Does payment mean my seat is confirmed? No. Wait until the booking status explicitly confirms that the ticket was issued.
Can I speed up a pending booking? You may use the in-app customer service option “我要催出票” where available. This does not guarantee issuance.
What do I need at the station? Bring the same valid identity document used for booking, normally your passport if you booked as an international visitor. Follow current station instructions for identity checks and boarding.
Can the boarding gate change? Yes. Check the live departure displays at the station.
Screenshots show an example journey on May 7 and illustrate one version of the Chinese-language Ctrip app. Menus, prices, offers and processes may change. Personal and payment details have been obscured. This is an independent travel guide, not an official railway or Ctrip publication.