China’s train system uses letter prefixes that indicate train type and speed, plus a separate class system that determines your comfort level. Mixing up a “K” train with a “G” train—or booking a hard seat for a 12-hour overnight journey—are classic tourist mistakes. This guide explains everything.
Train Type Prefixes
G Trains (高铁 / Gāo Tiě) — High-Speed, 300–350 km/h
The flagship of China Rail. G trains connect all major cities and are the default choice for journeys under 5 hours. Example routes:
- Beijing–Shanghai: 4h30m – 5h (fares: ¥553–1,748)
- Shanghai–Hangzhou: 1h
- Guangzhou–Shenzhen: 30min
G trains have only three classes: Business Class, First Class and Second Class. No sleepers.
D Trains (动车 / Dòng Chē) — Intercity, 200–250 km/h
Slightly slower than G trains but serve more secondary cities and are often cheaper. Same class structure as G trains but with the addition of overnight sleeper variants on some longer routes.
C Trains — Regional Commuter
Short-distance intercity services (often under 100 km). Budget option for regional travel.
Z Trains — Overnight Direct Express, 160 km/h
Older overnight trains running non-stop (hence the “Z” for 直达 zhídá, meaning direct). Great for long-distance overnight travel without wasting daytime hours. Only sleeper classes available.
T Trains — Express, 120–160 km/h
Express trains with stops at major cities. Mix of seat and sleeper classes for longer journeys.
K Trains — Fast Train, 100–120 km/h
Slower trains covering routes not served by high-speed rail. Budget option; more scenic journey through rural areas. All seat and sleeper classes available.
L/Y/S Trains — Local and Tourist
Regional local trains and special scenic trains. Rarely used by long-distance tourists.
Seat and Sleeper Classes Explained
商务座 Business Class (G/D trains only)
Flagship premium experience on Chinese high-speed rail. Wide leather seats that recline completely flat, personal entertainment screen, complimentary meal service on most routes, and a dedicated attendant. Facing seats have a touchscreen between them. Price: approximately 3–4x the Second Class fare.
Worth booking if: You’re doing Beijing–Shanghai, Beijing–Chengdu or another long daytime high-speed route and want to work or sleep comfortably. Corporate travelers use this for long trips.
Skip if: The journey is under 3 hours—it’s overkill for short trips.
一等座 First Class (G/D trains)
Four seats per row (2+2 configuration), more legroom than Second Class, wider seat and more recline. Quiet, comfortable. Price: approximately 1.5x Second Class.
Worth booking if: You’re tall, prefer more space, or the journey is 3–5 hours. Good value step up from Second Class.
二等座 Second Class (G/D trains)
Five seats per row (3+2 configuration) with standard aircraft-style recline. This is what most travelers—both Chinese and foreign—use for daily intercity travel. Clean, air-conditioned, quiet. For journeys up to 4 hours it is perfectly comfortable. Price: ¥0.45/km on G trains.
Best choice for: Most tourist itineraries. Beijing–Shanghai for ¥553 is entirely reasonable in Second Class.
软卧 Soft Sleeper (overnight trains)
Four-berth enclosed compartment with a lockable door, soft mattress, pillow, sheet and blanket provided. Two upper and two lower berths. Lower berth is more spacious and often more expensive by ¥50–100. No stranger will enter your compartment unless they have a ticket for one of the four berths. Reading light and power outlet in each compartment.
Best choice for: First-time overnight train travelers, families, solo female travelers who want a private-feeling space, anyone over 40.
Price: Approximately 1.3–1.5x Hard Sleeper.
硬卧 Hard Sleeper (overnight trains)
Six-berth open-bay sleeper — three tiers on each side of an open corridor, no door. Upper berth: cheaper but claustrophobic, low ceiling. Middle berth: best value — cheaper than lower, more headroom than upper. Lower berth: most expensive, serves as a social seat during the day (other passengers often sit on it).
Bedding provided (sheet, pillow, blanket). Shared squat toilets at the end of the carriage (some trains have Western toilets in one car). No locker — use your own luggage lock.
Best choice for: Budget travelers comfortable with communal sleeping, backpackers, younger travelers. Genuinely not bad for a 10–14 hour overnight journey.
Price: Approximately ¥0.25–0.35/km, making it one of the cheapest forms of long-distance travel in the world.
软座 Soft Seat (slower trains)
Cushioned, reserved seat on slower trains. Used on 3–6 hour regional journeys. Comfortable for daytime travel on T and K trains.
硬座 Hard Seat (K trains, some T trains)
Upright, unreserved bench seats in an open carriage. The cheapest option on Chinese trains. Fine for 2–3 hours; genuinely exhausting for longer journeys. Often crowded. Toilets at carriage ends. Not recommended for foreign tourists on overnight or long journeys.
Only worth it: For very short trips under 2 hours when no other class is available.
Booking Strategy
For popular routes: Book at least 2–4 weeks ahead, especially during national holidays (Chinese New Year: January/February; National Golden Week: October 1–7; Labor Day: May 1–5) when second class sells out first.
For flexible travel: Second class is safest to book early; soft sleeper on overnight trains. First class often has more availability.
Refunds and changes: Tickets can be refunded or changed up to 30 minutes before departure. After the departure time, unused tickets are fully non-refundable. Change fee: ¥5–10 per ticket; refund fee: 5–20% depending on how close to departure.
Where to book:
- 12306.cn (official, English available): Direct booking with passport number
- Trip.com/Ctrip: English-language booking with foreign cards accepted; small service fee
- TrainPal, Klook: Third-party platforms; fees apply but convenient
Real-Cost Examples (2026)
| Route | Train Type | Class | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beijing–Shanghai (4h30m) | G train | Second Class | ¥553 |
| Beijing–Shanghai (4h30m) | G train | First Class | ¥935 |
| Beijing–Shanghai (4h30m) | G train | Business | ¥1,748 |
| Beijing–Xi’an (4h30m) | G train | Second Class | ¥515 |
| Shanghai–Hangzhou (1h) | G train | Second Class | ¥73 |
| Beijing–Lijiang (overnight) | Z train | Soft Sleeper | ¥830 |
| Chengdu–Lhasa (42h!) | Slow train | Soft Sleeper | ¥750 |
| Shanghai–Suzhou (25min) | G train | Second Class | ¥32 |
The Overnight Train Experience
An overnight sleeper train from Beijing to Chengdu (via Chengdu North, about 20 hours on a Z or T train) is one of the classic travel experiences in China. You board in the evening, fall asleep to the rhythm of the train, and wake up somewhere entirely different. The dining car serves simple rice and noodle dishes at ¥20–35. Fellow passengers often share snacks, play cards or watch videos on phones. It’s a genuinely social environment.
For the Lhasa train specifically (Chengdu or Beijing to Lhasa, 42–48 hours), bring altitude medication, plenty of snacks, a good book and consider a soft sleeper for the longer journey. Oxygen is available in each carriage and the scenery crossing the Tibetan plateau is extraordinary.
Understanding train classes removes the most common source of transport anxiety on a China trip. The system is more logical than it first appears, and once you’ve taken one overnight sleeper, you’ll understand why Chinese travelers prefer the train to flying for journeys under 1,000 km.