China High-Speed Rail Guide 2026
The world's largest HSR network (45,000 km, over 1,300 stations). G-trains 350 km/h, D-trains 250 km/h. Book on Trip.com in CNY with Alipay or WeChat Pay. Beijing to Shanghai in 4.5 hours. 8 most-used routes mapped below.
45,000 km
World's largest HSR network
350 km/h
G-train top speed (Fuxing CR400)
1,300+
HSR stations across mainland China
Trip.com
CNY pricing + Alipay/WeChat Pay
China HSR Network — 9 Key Cities
Tap a marker to see the city. Lines indicate connected HSR stations.
Quick Answer
Book China HSR tickets on Trip.com (Ctrip) — the recommended channel for Hong Kong/Macau/Taiwan/Mainland passport holders and overseas Chinese. Trip.com accepts CNY plus Alipay plus WeChat Pay, has a full Mandarin interface, and releases tickets 15 days before departure (same as 12306.cn). G-trains are the fastest at 350 km/h, D-trains are 250 km/h, C-trains are short-distance commuter HSR. Avoid Spring Festival (late January to early February 2027) and Golden Week (October 1 to 7, 2026) — tickets sell out in 1 to 3 minutes.
Top 8 HSR Routes for Chinese Travelers
Beijing - Shanghai
4.5 h · G-class (Fuxing CR400)
CNY 553 - 933 (2nd / 1st class)
Beijing - Guangzhou
8 h · G-class (longest non-stop)
CNY 870 - 1,490
Shanghai - Hangzhou
1 h · G/D-class
CNY 73 - 117
Beijing - Xi'an
4.5 h · G-class
CNY 515 - 825
Shanghai - Suzhou
25 min · G/D-class (every 5 min)
CNY 39 - 65
Guangzhou - Shenzhen
30 min · G/C-class (every 10 min)
CNY 75 - 120
Beijing - Tianjin
30 min · C-class (commuter HSR)
CNY 54 - 65
Shanghai - Nanjing
1 h 10 min · G/D-class
CNY 134 - 215
Book China HSR on Trip.com — CNY + Alipay/WeChat
Full Mandarin interface, all G/D/C trains, Hong Kong/Macau/Taiwan passport accepted, mobile QR ticket on Trip.com app. Tickets released 15 days before departure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Trip.com versus 12306.cn — which to use for HSR tickets?+
For mainland mainland Chinese passport holders, 12306.cn is the official direct platform with no service fee. However, 12306 only accepts mainland Chinese passport ID, mainland-issued bank cards, and the platform interface is mainland-only. For overseas Chinese (Hong Kong/Macau/Taiwan passport, Singapore/Malaysia Mandarin-speaking diaspora, overseas Chinese passport holders), use Trip.com (Ctrip) — accepts all passports plus Alipay/WeChat Pay/foreign cards plus offers a full Mandarin interface plus 24/7 Mandarin customer support. Service fee is CNY 30 to 50 per ticket, but cancellation and changes are easier.
What are G, D, and C trains on the Chinese HSR?+
G-class (Gao-su) is the fastest, 350 km/h top speed, runs on dedicated HSR lines, Beijing-Shanghai in 4.5 hours. The newest G-trains are CR400 Fuxing (made in China, 100 percent independent IP). D-class (Dong-ce) runs 250 km/h, often uses CRH2 or CRH5 trainsets, shares lines with conventional rail in places. C-class (Cheng-ji) is short-distance commuter HSR, like Beijing-Tianjin (30 min) or Guangzhou-Shenzhen (30 min), typically frequent and cheap. Z-trains (slow overnight sleeper) and K-trains (regular express) are not HSR.
Can I use foreign passport to book Chinese HSR?+
Yes, foreign passport holders can book Chinese HSR. On Trip.com, just enter your passport number when booking. Mainland Chinese stations support foreign passport ticket pickup at the manned counter (not at automated machines). You will need to swipe the passport at the gate and the station agent will verify your photo. Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan permit holders use their special permit number — the system handles this automatically. ID verification has been tightened since 2024 — your passport number plus photo are linked to the ticket at booking.
What about Spring Festival and Golden Week peak periods?+
Spring Festival (Chinese New Year, late January to mid-February each year, around 40 days called Chunyun) is the largest mass migration on Earth — 3 billion trips. Spring Festival 2027 peak is January 17 to March 14. Tickets sell out in 1 to 3 minutes when released. Book exactly 15 days before departure at 6 AM Beijing time. Trip.com offers a Pre-Order Helper for paid CNY 50 priority booking. Golden Week (October 1 to 7) is the second peak — book 15 days ahead. Avoid these periods if possible.
Business class versus First class versus Second class — what to choose?+
Business class (Shang-wu) is the most expensive (2.5x Second class), 3 seats per row, lie-flat, business lounge access, free meal — only on selected long-distance G-trains. First class (Yi-deng) is 50 percent more than Second class, 4 seats per row (2+2), 60-degree recline, extra legroom — recommended for Chinese family travel on 4+ hour routes. Second class (Er-deng) is 5 seats per row (2+3), tight legroom, comfortable for under 4 hours. Standing tickets (Wu-zuo) are available only for short routes when seats sell out — Spring Festival emergency option.
How do I get from China HSR station to the airport?+
Most major Chinese airports have HSR connections. Beijing Daxing Airport (PKX) has a dedicated HSR line via the Capital Airport Express. Shanghai Hongqiao Airport (SHA) shares a terminal with Hongqiao HSR station — same building, 5 min walk. Guangzhou Baiyun Airport (CAN) connects via Guangzhou North HSR station, 30 min metro link. Chengdu Tianfu Airport (TFU) has a high-speed connection to Chengdu East HSR station. Shenzhen Bao'an Airport (SZX) connects via Shenzhen North HSR station, 10 min metro. Use Trip.com to bundle HSR plus airport transfer.