High-speed rail
Best for intercity movement between major cities once your route is planned.
Transport
High-Speed Rail & Transport
A practical transport guide for first-time visitors using Chinese high-speed trains, metro systems, airport transfers, taxis, and Didi.
High-speed rail basics
Before taking your first train
Train travel in China can be smooth, but large stations and passport-based checks can be confusing the first time.
- Book tickets with the same passport name and number you will travel with.
- Arrive early enough for security checks, station navigation, and gate changes.
- Check the station name carefully because many cities have multiple major train stations.
- Keep your passport ready for ticket checks and boarding verification.
- Save your train number, departure station, arrival station, and hotel address offline.
Transport modes
How to choose the right option
Metro
Often the easiest way to move inside large cities during the day.
Airport transfer
Plan the first airport-to-hotel route before landing, especially after long flights.
Taxi or Didi
Useful with luggage, late arrivals, or locations far from metro stations.
First ride checklist
Prepare before you leave the hotel
- Confirm the exact station or airport terminal.
- Leave buffer time for security and walking inside large stations.
- Keep passport, ticket information, and hotel address easy to access.
- Prepare a payment backup before taking a taxi or ride-hailing trip.
- Use screenshots if maps, translation, or mobile data becomes unreliable.
Common mistakes
Avoid transport friction
- Going to the wrong train station in a city with multiple stations.
- Arriving too late and underestimating security checks or walking distance.
- Booking tickets with a name or passport detail that does not match the travel document.
- Planning a tight transfer immediately after an international flight.
- Assuming every taxi driver can understand an English hotel name.