High-Speed Trains & Domestic Flights in China
China’s high-speed rail network is the reason our itineraries do not involve long coach transfers. It is fast, punctual and comfortable — but it runs on a real-name system built around Chinese ID cards, and foreign passports need a slightly different routine. This page is that routine.
High-speed trains
- Tickets are bought with your passport, and we buy them in advance. Popular routes and holiday periods sell out weeks ahead — this is one of the few things we cannot fix at short notice.
- Automatic gates cannot read foreign passports. Use the staffed manual channel. It is slower and it is why we allow time.
- Arrive 60 to 90 minutes before departure at large stations. Security screening, the walk to the platform and the passport check all take longer than you expect.
- On board: free hot water at the end of each carriage, power outlets, and a trolley service. Bringing your own food is completely normal.
- Luggage: there is no check-in. You carry it on and store it on racks near the doors or overhead. Pack so you can lift your own bag.
Domestic flights
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| Check-in opens | Typically 24 to 48 hours before departure, and closes 45 to 60 minutes before. |
| Online check-in | Use Umetrip (航旅纵横) — the official civil aviation data platform. One app covers every domestic carrier: seat selection, electronic boarding pass, gate changes, baggage carousel and delay certificates for insurance. |
| Add your booking | Tickets bought with a passport usually do not sync automatically. Add the ticket number manually, or search by passport number and name. |
| At the airport | Even with successful online check-in, foreign passports often still require the manual counter for verification and a printed boarding pass. If you have checked bags, you must go to the counter anyway. |
| Overbooking | Rare on Chinese domestic flights. Where it happens, regulations require the airline to seek volunteers with compensation and rebooking first. Checking in early reduces your exposure. |
Taxis and ride-hailing
Use DiDi. It has an English interface, accepts overseas cards and prices transparently, and it removes the language problem at the destination end. If you take a street taxi, insist on the meter. Ignore anyone at an airport or station who approaches you offering a ride — that is a scam pattern, not a service.
Do not plan to drive. China does not recognise foreign driving licences.
How we monitor it
Before departure we send a small table with each flight’s number, carrier and the exact time check-in opens, and we message you on the day it opens so you can pick a seat. We also track arrival times in real time, which is how the driver knows to wait when a flight is late.
Common questions
Do I need to print my train ticket?
Can I choose my seat on the train?
How much luggage can I take on a high-speed train?
What happens if a flight is cancelled?
Last verified 2026-10-31. Information on this page is checked against official sources and re-verified monthly. If you are booking, we confirm your specific case in writing before you pay anything.
Still not sure how this applies to you?
Tell us your nationality and rough dates. We will send a written answer, not a link.