Home / Train /

China High Speed Train (Bullet Train)

China high speed trains, also known as bullet or fast trains, can reach a top speed of 350 km/h (217 mph).

Over 2,800 pairs of bullet trains numbered by G, D or C run daily connecting over 550 cities in China and covering 33 of the country's 34 provinces. Beijing-Shanghai high speed train link the two megacities 1,318 km (819 mi) away in just 4.5 hours.

By the end of 2024, China keeps the world's largest high speed rail (HSR) network with a length totaling over 45,000 km (27,960 mi). The world's longest HSR line, Beijing - Hong Kong High Speed Railway, extends 2,440 km (1,516 mi).

Top China High Speed Train Travel Routes:

More Bullet Train Pictures(35)

Why travel by high speed trains?

1. Fast:

The present operational speed of China trains high speed type is 200-350 km/h (124-217 mph), greatly shortening the travel time. The duration from Beijing to Shanghai has been shortened from 15 hours to about 4.5 hours.

2. Punctual:

Different from flights, they are less influenced by weather or traffic control, hence able to arrive on time.

3. Convenient:

HSR trains are scheduled more frequently than normal ones and many of the high speed railway stations are reachable by subway, making a rail journey much more convenient than before.

China Bullet Train Video

4. Reasonablely priced:

Although China high speed train tickets generally cost more than a non-bullet train ticket, it is still cheaper than a flight ticket most of the time. From Beijing to Shanghai, a soft sleeper non-bullet rail ticket costs around CNY500, a second class seat China high speed rail ticket costs around CNY550, while the full airfare of an economy class is over CNY850.

5. Comfortable:

The carriages are much better equipped than the old-generation carriages, and rival the facilities of an airplane. The seats are wider and softer, the windows are bigger, and the washrooms are cleaner…

6. Safe:

The fast trains are operated by advanced technological communication systems to ensure passengers' safety to the uttermost.

Ticket Types

Tickets on bullet trains are generally divided into four types - second class seat, first class seat, business class seat, and VIP seat. On a few overnight D trains, sleepers are provided, and sometimes standing room tickets are available when all seats are sold out. On some short inter-city HSR lines, China Rail Pass is available, which is a prepaid card for self-service check-in at a railway station.

China High Speed Train Types

The types mainly include the popularized Hexiehao and the new type Fuxinghao.

	Hexiehao (CRH)	Fuxinghao (CR)
Top Speed	300 km/h (186 mph)	300-350 km/h (186-217 mph)
Appearance	Silver or white with blue belt	Silver with red belt, or white with golden belt
Space	370 cm high; narrower legroom	405 cm high; wider legroom
Electrical Socket	Standard type under the seats	Standard and USB types beside the seats
Wifi	Partially available	Available on all
Types in Service	CRH380A, CRH380B, CRH2, CRH3C… numbered by G, D or C	CR400AF & CR400BF numbered by G or C

Facilities

Facilities on these highballs are of high standard, similar to those on an airplane. The seats can be rotated towards the moving direction; the seatback can be adjusted to a wanted angle; each passenger is offered a foldable small table; electrical sockets are available; and it is even possible to use Wi-Fi.

High Speed Railway Network

More High Speed Railway Maps

Since the earliest high speed rail line, Beijing - Tianjin Inter-City High Speed Rail Line opened in 2008, China has developed a dense high speed railway network reaching 45,000 km (27,960 mi), accounting for 2/3 of the world's high-speed rail tracks.

There are mainly four north-south and four east-west trunk lines, and some inter-city lines, greatly shortening the travel time within China.

According to the plan, the high speed rail will reach 50,000 km (31,070 mi) by 2025. The network will include eight north-south and eight east-west trunk lines, linking all big and medium-sized cities with a population of 500,000.

Major High Speed Rail Lines

Line	Open Date	Length (km)	Speed (km/h)
Beijing-Shanghai	2011/06/30	1,318	300 - 350
Beijing-Guangzhou	2012/12/26	2,298	200 - 300
Beijing-Xi'an	2012/12/26	1,216	250 - 300
Shanghai-Guangzhou	2014/12/10	1,647	250 - 300
Shanghai-Kunming	2016/12/28	2,252	300 - 300
Xi'an-Shanghai	2016/9/10	1,509	250 - 300
Xi'an-Chengdu	2017/9/30	643	250
Guangzhou - Shenzhen - Hong Kong	2018/9/23	141	200 - 300

Inter-city High Speed Trains

Line	Open Date	Length (km)	Speed (km/h)
Beijing-Tianjin	2008/08/01	119	300
Guangzhou-Zhuhai	2012/12/31	117	200
Guangzhou-Shenzhen	2011/12/26	116	300
Shanghai-Nanjing	2010/07/01	301	300
Nanjing-Hangzhou	2013/07/01	249	300

High Speed Train Worldwide

Currently, 16 countries and regions worldwide have bullet trains running on their land, including China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, Turkey, and United Kingdom. The total length has reached 40,000 km (24,855 mi) and the speed varies from 200 km/h (124 mph) to 350 km/h (217 mph). China high speed train tickets are the lowest among all.

See Also:

High Speed Era in China Railway History

Overnight Trains

China Train Travel - A Beginner’s Guide

- Last updated on Oct. 30, 2024 by Grace Yang -

Questions & Answers on China High Speed Train

Asked by Fong Chee Keong from SINGAPORE | Oct. 08, 2024 07:20

I am planning to travel from Laos to Guangzhou

We are planning a trip by train from Botan to Guangzhou and help or suggestion how we can go about doing it and suggestion on stopover at Places of interest .

Answers (1)

Answered by Rita | Oct. 10, 2024 22:57

You can enter China via Botan Port (Mohan Port on China side), and take a high speed train at Mohan railway station to Kunming South, then transfer to a high speed train to GZ. Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-la along one high speed train line are popular destinations. You can stop at Kunming to travel to the others.

Asked by Ms Leong from SINGAPORE | Aug. 28, 2024 07:59

Ticket price on holidays

I plan to travel by HSR from Xi'an to Guangzhou on 17 Sep which happen to be the mid-autumn festival. Will the train tickets be the same cost as on normal days, or will there be a premium? What will the premium be? Thank you

Answers (1)

Answered by Daniel | Aug. 28, 2024 20:48

The cost is always the same but the tickets are hard to get on holidays. You'd better book in advance to ensure a smooth trip. FYI: https://www.travelchinaguide.com/china-trains/

Asked by Julia from FRANCE | Aug. 09, 2024 14:19

Taking a train from Shanghai to Beijing during the Golden Week

I will have to travel from Shanghai to Beijing on the 6th of October. Any tips to get through the crowds (I am very claustrophobic)? I wish I could have known about the holidays earlier. Can't change my plans now. Many thanks in advance.

Answers (1)

Answered by Joshua | Aug. 12, 2024 00:30

I have to say, you need to book the train ticket as early as possible. You can book in advance with TravelChinaGuide on this page:
https://www.travelchinaguide.com/china-trains/

On the travel day, arrive at the railway station earlier than usual, like 1.5 hours before departure for the boarding procedures.

Asked by Ng from MALAYSIA | Jul. 30, 2024 23:42

Buy ticket through 12306 app

With a validated 12306 app, 3 other passenger are added into the account. After buying ticket through 12306 app, will the QR code (assume is equivalent to e-ticket) be made available in the app under my account? Or will it be send to email account? If ticket purchase for 4 person (including myself), how many QR code will I receive?

Answers (1)

Answered by Lee | Jul. 31, 2024 18:09

The QR code will be send to your account and if you have registered an e-mail, the order number will also be sent to your email, too, so as your Chinese phone number. I don't remember how many QR codes I've received to more than one ticket? But it doesn't matter. The passengers can just proceed the railway station and get on the train with passport used to book the ticket. No other documents will be required.

Asked by Bat sheva amir from ISRAEL | Jul. 30, 2024 21:41

Map of bullet train

I want to plan a high-speed train trip. I would appreciate your help with the map of the high-speed trains with travel times and thus I can order 4 tickets for the trip through you (mid-October 24 for two weeks) Thank you for your help Bat Sheva Amir

Answers (1)

Answered by Hank | Jul. 31, 2024 18:11

Bat, here is a railway map with travel time indicated. Just click to enlarge it.
www.travelchinaguide.com/images/map/train/high-speed-railway.jpg