China High-Speed Rail

China high-speed rail refers to railways for trains that have designed speeds of 200-350 km/h (124-217 mph). At present, China has the world’s longest high-speed railway network, and this vast network is continuing expand rapidly. By the end of 2019, the total operating mileage of China's high-speed railway has reached 35,000 koilmeters (21,748 miles) , ranking first in the world. By the end of 2020, China has 37,900 kilometers (23,550 miles) of high-speed rail in operation.

History of China High-Speed Railway

• In 1994, China’s first quasi-high-speed railway between Guangzhou and Shenzhen was put into service, with the design speed of 160-200 km/h (99-124 mph).
• In 1998, Guangzhou-Shenzhen Railway was electrified.
• In 2003, China’s first high-speed passenger dedicated rail line between Qinghuangdao and Shenyang was put into service.
• In 2004, the government of China planed “Four Vertical and Four Horizontal” high-speed rail network.
• In 2007, CRH (China High-Speed Railway) series EMU, also known as Hexiehao high-speed train, was put into operation.
• In 2008, Beijing-Tianjin High-Speed Railway, China's first high-speed railway with fully independent intellectual property rights, opened. It is also the first railway with operational speeds above 300 km/h (186 mph).
• In 2011, the Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway opened.
• In 2016, the plan of building “Eight Vertical and Eight Horizontal” high-speed rail network was put on agenda.
• In 2017, China has 25,000-kilometer-long high-speed network.
• In 2018, high-speed trains between Hong Kong and mainland China were put into operation.

Also read: China Railway Construction, China Railway Network

Popular High-Speed Rail Lines in China

Beijing – Shanghai High-Speed Railway

• Opened: 2011
• Distance: 1318 kilometers (817 miles)
• Number of trains: 42 pairs of high-speed trains
• Travel time: 4-6 hours for G trains, 12 hours for D trains
• Terminals: Beijing South and Shanghai Hongqiao railway stations for G trains, Beijing Railway Station and Shanghai/Shanghai South railway stations for D trains
• Main stops: Beijing, Tianjin, Jinan, Nanjing, Shanghai

Beijing – Xi'an High-Speed Railway

• Distance: 1200 kilometers (744 miles)
• Number of trains: 18 pairs of high-speed trains
• Travel time: 4-6 hours
• Terminals: Beijing West Railway Station, Xi’an North Railway Station
• Main stops: Beijing, Shijiazhuang, Zhengzhou, Luoyang, Xi’an         

Xi'an – Chengdu High-Speed Railway

• Opened: 2012
• Distance: 658 kilometers (408 miles)
• Number of trains: 42 pairs of high-speed trains
• Travel time: 3-5 hours
• Terminals: Xi’an North Railway Station, Chengdu East Railway Station
• Main stops: Xi’an, Hanzhong, Guangyuan, Chengdu

Shanghai – Hangzhou High-Speed Railway

• Opened: 2010
• Distance: 166 kilometers (103 miles)
• Number of trains: 135 pairs of high-speed trains
• Travel time: 45 minutes to 1.5 hours
• Terminals: Shanghai Railway Station, Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station, Hangzhou Railway Station, Hangzhou East Railway Station
• Main stops: Shanghai, Jiaxing, Hangzhou

Beijing – Tianjin Intercity Railway

• Opened: 2008
• Distance: 120 kilometers (74 miles)
• Number of trains: 159 pairs of high-speed trains
• Travel time: 30 minutes to 1 hours
• Terminals: Beijing Railway Station, Beijing South Railway Station, Tianjin Railway Station, Tianjin West Railway Station, Tianjin South Railway Station
• Main stops: Beijing, Tianjin

Guangzhou – Shenzhen Intercity Railway

• Opened: 2011
• Distance: 102 kilometers (63 miles)
• Number of trains: 200 pairs of high-speed trains
• Travel time: 29 minutes to 1.5 hours
• Terminals: Guangzhou Railway Station, Guangzhou East Railway Station, Guangzhou South Railway Station, Guangzhou North Railway Station, Shenzhen Railway Station, Shenzhen North Railway Station, Futian Railway Station
• Main stops: Guangzhou, Futian, Shenzhen

Guangzhou – Shenzhen – Hong Kong High-Speed Railway

• Opened: 2018
• Distance: 141 kilometers (87 miles)
• Number of trains: 34 pairs of high-speed trains between Guangzhou and Hong Kong; 80 pairs of high-speed trains between Shenzhen and Hong Kong
• Travel time: 1 hour between Guangzhou and Hong Kong; 20 minutes between Shenzhen and Hong Kong
• Terminals: Guangzhou South Railway Station, Shenzhen North Railway Station, Hong Kong West Kowloon Railway Station
• Main stops: Guangzhou, Humen, Futian, Shenzhen, Hong Kong

High-Speed Trains in China

High-speed trains in China, also call bullet trains, have running speeds of 200-350 km/h (124 – 217 mph). High-speed trains connect most major and tourist cities. They have become one of the most popular transportation options when traveling around China.

High-speed trains in China are comfortable, fast, punctual and safe. Facilities onboard are modern and of high standard. Seats on high-speed trains are similar to those on an airplane but with more leg room. The ticket price is reasonable by western standard.

Types of High-Speed Trains

According to model and by technology, high-speed trains in China can be divided into Hexiehao (CRH series EMU) and Fuxinghao (CR series EMU).

According to the running speed, high-speed trains can be divided into three categories: G trains, D trains and C trains.

Seat Classes on High-Speed Trains

Business class

Business class is available on G trains and a few C trains. There is only one business carriage on a high-speed train. Business class is the most luxurious and most expensive class on a high-speed train. Business class carriage is separated to first and second-class carriages by automatic doors, providing private and high-end comfortable travel experience. Soft drinks and snacks are offered for free.

Passengers who holding business class tickets can go to the VIP waiting lounge for fast check-in. A business ticket fare is triple as second-class ticket fare and twice as first class ticket fare.

Seats on business class carriage:

• Three seats on a row (AC+F). Seat A and F are window seats and C seat is aisle seat.
• The first row only has two seats, called sightseeing seats. But some sightseeing seats don’t have window view and provide less leg room than other business class seats.
• Seats are soft and covered with leather.
• Business class provide more elbow and leg room than first and second classes.
• The seat back can be electrically adjusted. All seats can be reclined to a flat position.

Other facilities that business class provides:

• Power sockets are available on seat armrests.
• Each seat has a foldable tray table, which can be found in the armrest.
• Power socket is available at the seat armrest.
• Well-maintained toilet (western or squat-style) and washbasins are available at the end of the carriage.

First class

First-class ticket price is about 1.5 times as second-class ticket fare. On some high-speed trains, first class is the highest seat class.

What's First Class Like:

• There are four seats arranged in a row (AC+DF). Seat A and seat F are located by the window. Seat C and seat D are aisle seats.
• The seatback is adjustable.
• Each seat has a foldable tray table, which can be found in the armrest.
• Power sockets are available at the bottom of each row of seats.
• First class is usually in the first or last carriage of each high-speed train. An automatic door separates it from second class carriage.
• Toilet (western or squat-style) and washbasins are available at the end of the carriage.
• There is luggage rack above the window.

First Class Versus Second Class

• First class seat is wider than second class seat.
• Distance between two rows is wider than second class, providing more leg room.
• First class provide more privacy and is quieter than second class.

Second class

Second class is the most common and popular, because of the cheapest ticket fare on high-speed trains. Second-class have five seats in a row (ABC+DF). Seat A and F are located by the window. Seat C and D are by the aisle. Seat B is a middle seat might make passengers uncomfortable.

The seatback can also be adjusted, but not to a flat position. A tray table is attached to each seatback. Power sockets are available at the bottom of each seat. Toilet is available at the end of each carriage.

You can put your baggage in the luggage rack on the top of the carriage, or in the luggage closet at the connection of each carriage.

Soft Sleeper

Soft sleeper class is available on overnight high-speed trains such as Beijing – Shanghai, Shanghai – Xi’an and Beijing to Guangzhou high-speed trains.

There are two types of soft sleepers on high-speed trains: soft sleeper and new soft sleeper.

Soft Sleeper

It is the same as on regular trains. There are four bunk in a private compartment, two upper bunks and two lower bunks. A lockable door keeps the compartment private and quiet.

Facilities

• There are eight compartments in each soft sleeper carriage.
• Boiling water is provided at the end of each carriage.
• There are luggage closets at the top of each compartment. And luggage racks are also available on the top of the aisle.
• Toilet and washbasins are available at the end of each carriage.

New Soft Sleeper

New soft sleeper was put into service in 2017. It made debut on a pair of Beijing - Shanghai overnight high-speed trains.

New soft sleeper doesn’t have lockable compartments. There are two rows of double-deck bunks on either side of the aisle, and each bunk is arranged parallel to the aisle and the running direction of the train.

The new soft sleeper bunk is 77 inches (195 cm) long and 30 inches (75 cm) in wide. Each bunk has curtains for privacy concerns. A reading light, a power socket and small table are available for each bunk. Each bunk is located by the window, including all upper bunks.

Luggage can be put under the lower berth. There is also a small luggage rack for each bunk to put small bags in.

Compared to traditional soft sleeper, new soft sleeper might seem a bit noisy as there is only curtain for each bunk to keep private.

What You Need to Know

1. High-speed trains stop at each station only for a few minutes. So start pack your belongings ten minutes before the arrival time for getting off and not to get off if it is not your destination.
2. Unlike regular trains, smoking is not allowed on high-speed trains.
3. Dinning car is available on high-speed trains. But food onboard is more expensive and with limited choices. It is a good idea that you bring you own food and snacks.
4. Boiling water is offered at the end of each carriage. But you need to bring your own bottle.
5. Staff on high-speed trains can only understand Chinese.
6. Toilet paper is offered, but always run out. Always bring your own toilet paper.