For a first high-speed train journey in mainland China, keep the original passport used for booking with you from station entry to the final exit. Save the train number, date, exact station names, carriage and seat before leaving the hotel. Station entry, security and boarding are separate stages, so plan time for all three.
Updated 2 November 2026. This guide explains the domestic station process. Hong Kong cross-boundary services and international trains have additional procedures; use the instructions for that journey.
The station journey at a glance
| Stage | Your next action | What to have ready |
|---|---|---|
| Book and prepare | Check passenger details, date, train number and exact departure/arrival stations. | The same original passport that will travel with you; saved booking details. |
| Enter the station | Find the departures entrance and the identity-check lane that accepts your document. | Passport and booking reference for staff assistance. |
| Pass security | Place bags on the scanner conveyor and follow staff directions through screening. | All bags, including handbags and small daypacks; restricted items checked before travel. |
| Wait and board | Find your train on the display, then the correct gate and announced boarding time. | Train number, gate, carriage and seat. |
| Ride | Board the correct carriage, stow bags and use your assigned seat. | Passport accessible for any onboard check; destination saved. |
| Get off and exit | Prepare bags before arrival, follow Exit / 出站 and complete the final document check. | Passport, all belongings and the agreed pickup instructions. |
1. Booking: match the passport and the station
Buy through China Railway 12306 or an authorised booking provider. Use the passenger’s actual name, passport number and document details as requested. Recheck the issued booking rather than assuming that a request or payment screen means a particular train is confirmed.
Carry the original document used for the reservation. A downloaded itinerary or reimbursement receipt is useful for reading the journey details, but it does not replace the required travel document for boarding. 12306’s English ticketing guidance explains the difference.
Check the station’s full English and Chinese name. A city can have several stations, and “South” or “East” changes the destination for your driver. For example, Kunming / 昆明 and Kunming South / 昆明南 are different stations. Save the station and hotel addresses offline together with the train details.
2. Arrival and the passport check
For an unfamiliar domestic station, aim to arrive around 60–90 minutes before departure as a planning buffer. Allow more for a holiday peak, ticket problems, a large group or assistance needs. This is a practical allowance, not a railway guarantee or a fixed check-in rule. Include the hotel-to-station journey separately.
Follow departures or Entrance / 进站口. At the identity checkpoint, use a gate that supports your document or ask staff for the manual lane, 人工通道. If a passport is not read, show it to staff with the booking details. Keep the passport accessible after this first check.
3. Security and luggage
Put your bags on the scanner conveyor and follow the security team’s instructions. Screening can include a handheld check. Collect every bag from the far end before walking into the waiting hall. Keep small valuables together so they are easier to account for.
For ordinary adult passengers, the published free carry-on allowance is 20 kg; for children it is 10 kg. For high-speed/EMU trains, the sum of an item’s length, width and height must not exceed 130 cm. Check special-item rules separately, including mobility aids, strollers or sports equipment. See 12306’s carry-on rules before choosing a suitcase.
Power banks and lithium batteries must have clear markings and a rated energy no higher than 100 Wh per unit. Check the Wh label rather than relying only on a marketing description in mAh. Aerosols, flammable products and other restricted items have separate limits. The Shanghai transport authority’s rail-item guidance provides examples. Flight rules require their own check if your journey also includes an aircraft.
Choose a bag you can move and lift comfortably. Large-bag space can be limited, and you remain responsible for your belongings. Keep aisles, doors and emergency equipment clear. For golf equipment, use our golf clubs and high-speed trains guide before confirming rail transport.
4. Find the gate and watch the boarding announcement
Use the train number to find your service on the departure display; the final destination on the screen may be beyond your own stop. Confirm the gate and watch for changes. A saved itinerary helps you navigate, while the current station display and staff directions tell you where to board.
Go through the announced gate, complete the document check and follow the signs to the platform. Gates close before departure. The exact cutoff is station-specific, so use the posted notice and be at the gate in advance; the departure time is not a target time for joining the queue. 12306’s station guidance explains these separate steps.
5. Carriage, seat and the journey
Read the carriage number on the booking and compare it with the platform signs or the number beside the train door. Follow the boarding instructions, especially at a short intermediate stop. Once aboard, find the row and seat letter shown in your reservation; ask the attendant if the layout is unclear.
Use the designated luggage shelves or overhead rack where suitable, and keep your passport and valuables close. A seat’s charging socket or adjustment control depends on the train model. High-speed trains are smoke-free, including toilets and the use of e-cigarettes. Tell an attendant if you need help rather than moving to a different carriage or seat without checking.
6. Arrival, station exit and pickup
Watch the onboard display for your station and pack before arrival without blocking the aisle. Check the seat, rack and luggage area. Follow Exit / 出站 after getting off and keep the passport ready for the exit check. If you have a connection, confirm the designated transfer route with staff before leaving the controlled area.
Agree the arrival-station exit, meeting sign or pickup point with your driver. A railway station can have several exits on different sides. Save a contact number and keep the phone working until you have met the correct person. For a Yunnan arrival, our Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La rail guide covers the regional route choices.
Useful station signs
| Chinese | English | When it helps |
|---|---|---|
| 进站口 | Station entrance / departures | Entering the station for your journey. |
| 安检 | Security screening | Finding the bag scanner and passenger check. |
| 候车室 | Waiting hall | Waiting for the announced boarding time. |
| 检票口 | Boarding / ticket-check gate | Matching your train to the correct gate. |
| 人工通道 | Manual / staffed lane | Asking for document-check assistance. |
| 出站口 | Station exit | Leaving after the arrival check. |
Questions that can change your rail day
Can I board with a passport photograph or booking screenshot?
Carry the original passport used to book. A screenshot helps staff locate a reservation; it is not a substitute for the required identity document. If the passport is lost or replaced, contact the booking provider and railway staff before travel to clarify the correct procedure.
What if the automatic gate rejects my passport?
Use the staffed lane and show both the passport and journey details. Ask staff to check the document, booking date and train. Do not switch to another person’s document or assume the failed scan means the reservation is missing.
What if I miss the train?
Go promptly to the railway service desk or contact the provider that issued the booking. Available changes and any fees depend on the ticket and timing. Do not board another departure without an authorised change.
Can children, older relatives or wheelchair users request assistance?
Discuss the station route, lifting needs, document requirements and any assistance reservation before purchase. Keep more time for the platform journey and confirm the actual service with the railway. A car pickup does not automatically include help through station security or onto the train.
Are flights and railway battery rules the same?
Check each mode separately. An item passing a railway check does not establish that it meets the requirements for a later domestic or international flight.
Connect the rail journey with the rest of your trip
Use the Yunnan preparation guide for packing and arrivals, the China payment guide for phone and card backups, and the Jiuzhaigou train-planning guide for a different rail-and-road example.
Compare an eight-day private Yunnan journey or a Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong rail group tour. Ask which trains, transfers and station assistance are included in the written quotation.
Send Vero Trip your travel date, departure and arrival cities, group size, bags and assistance needs through Plan My Trip. Do not put passport scans or full document numbers into a general enquiry; passenger information can be arranged through the agreed booking process when needed.
