Where to book trains and buses in China?

Hi there, For our upcoming trip to China, we're planning to get around by bus and train. For trains, we found a few sites, including: https://www.travelchinaguide.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoqfiOqfmBSYlDwjPCXo4nkF7uF3ILYs_o3wlLu9uBy7gC7iN-2C, and for buses: https://www.chinabusguide.com/ but the latter site isn’t very complete. Have any of you tried other sites? Thanks for your help! Alod

Hi,

I’m leaving for China on Thursday. For trains, I go to Trip.com official site: Hotels, flight and train tickets. It’s easy to book, and you can pay directly on the site. You get a QR code, which you take to the ticket counter on the day of departure to pick up your tickets—no extra fees. For buses, you have to book on the spot because online agencies charge big commissions. Someone advised me to check with the hotels I’ll be staying at if needed.

Hi there, thanks for your feedback. For buses, what we're really interested in isn't necessarily booking online, but finding the schedules and stops so we don't waste too much time looking for them once we're there. We'll see how it goes. Safe travels

Hi there, Thanks for your reply. For buses, what we're really interested in isn't necessarily booking online, but finding the schedules and stops so we don't waste too much time looking around on the spot. We'll see how it goes. Have a great trip!

You might want to check with ChatGPT... For trains, 12Go or Trip.com: ticket sent by email, nothing to print.

Booking China Train Tickets, Real-Time Schedule & Train Travel Tips

Thanks, I’ll check out this new site! Alod

Thanks, what’s ChatGPT? Alod

Hi there ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence (AI) app See you!

Hi there,

For trains, I downloaded the Chinese railway company app called 12306—that’s its name. Right now, I buy my tickets directly through the app and pay with a debit Visa without any issues. It’s easy and there are no agency fees. Your passport acts as your ticket because when you set up the app, you’re asked for your name and passport number (it’ll be scanned every time you enter the station, and then you’re good to go). You can add multiple travelers with their names and passports. It’s great—you can see all your upcoming trips, your carriage number, and seat number. You can manage everything, even changes or cancellations. Just a heads-up: some cities have multiple stations. When the city name has an extra letter after it, that’s the central station. The others are in the outskirts—north, east, west. There’s an English option available. I’ve been using it every week while in China. 😉

For buses, it’s better to book on the spot. Your hotel can help if needed.

Hi there, Thanks for the info, I checked out the app—it’s really good, but you can only see schedules for the next 15 days, unlike on https://www.travelchinaguide.com/ I tried a payment simulation, but when I click "purchase," nothing happens. Did you run into this issue? Alod

Okay, thanks for the clarification! Alod

Your passport acts as your ticket because when you set up the app, you’re asked for your name and passport number (it’ll be scanned every time you enter the station, then you’re good to go),

Hi,

Thanks for the info. You don’t go to the counter at all to get your ticket? Or print it from a machine?

Hello,

No, the passport acts as your ticket. The details about your trip, carriage number, and seat will be in the app.

Hi, Did you follow the app setup process correctly? You need to register names and passports, provide an email address, and the first time, you have to confirm your email address, if I remember correctly. Tickets go on sale 15 days in advance. There are lots of trains—the letter at the beginning of the train number, like D for example, tells you if it's a high-speed train (TGV) or G (same) or K (like a Corail train).

When you pay, a page opens asking what type of card you have. Be careful: Visa cards are debit, and there’s a conflict with credit cards.

If you haven’t confirmed your email address, you can’t buy tickets. Otherwise, you’ll need to confirm it in the app under the "ME" tab at the bottom right.

Thanks for your reply, I just tried again, and it’s actually possible now. Have a great day! Alod