Business class seating in the high-speed Beijing-Shanghai train.
- It’s best to buy train tickets in China at least a month early, otherwise there’s every chance you won’t be going anywhere. The differences between first and second class seats in terms of price are often insignificant, but the difference in comfort can be huge, so tickets for first sell out very fast. If you really need to get somewhere, you can always buy a ticket without a guaranteed seat — you just have to sit on the floor for a couple of hours.
- Another important thing. You can only enter a railway station by showing both your ticket and your passport. You’ll have to stand in line to have the first checked, then go through security. Plan your time accordingly.