China High-Speed Rail Network
40,000+ km of high-speed rail — the world's largest HSR network
China's high-speed rail (HSR) network is the world's largest — 40,000+ km connecting 500+ cities at 350 km/h. Beijing-Shanghai in 4h 20m. Beijing-Guangzhou in 8h. Shanghai-Hong Kong direct via West Kowloon terminus. This map shows the main national trunk lines.
20 nodes·23 routes·Powered by MapLibre + OpenFreeMap
Operators
China Railway (CR)
Peak season
Golden Week (Oct 1-7) + Chinese New Year — travel is chaos
Booking tips
- 1Book via Trip.com Trains — English interface, easiest for foreigners.
- 2Book 15-30 days ahead — tickets go on sale 15 days out (some routes 30).
- 3Business Class: 3-abreast lie-flat seats — worth it for 6h+ journeys.
- 4Second Class is fine + very cheap by Western standards.
- 5HK-Guangzhou via West Kowloon uses HK Immigration in-station — treat like international.
Booking: Trip.com Trains (highest-converting Asian train affiliate)
FAQs — China High-Speed Rail Network
How fast is Beijing-Shanghai HSR?
4h 20m at 350 km/h. Distance is 1,318 km. Fastest scheduled train in commercial service globally.
Can foreigners book Chinese HSR without a local phone?
Yes — Trip.com Trains accepts international cards + email. Bring passport for station pickup.