Learning to Ride the Rails in China: A Guide to Buying Train Tickets

As a foreigner learning Chinese, traveling by train can be a convenient and affordable way to explore China. However, buying train tickets in China can be overwhelming, especially for those who don’t speak the language. In this lesson, we will learn how to buy a train ticket in China, including how to ask for directions, ask for a ticket, and know the different types of seats available.💳

There are many different places you can buy a train ticket, including the train station ticket office and little ticket sellers outside the station. It’s important to buy your ticket in advance, especially during holidays like national holidays, as trains can be very crowded.💳

To buy a ticket, you need to ask where you are going () and how many tickets you want (). Then, you need to respond with the destination () and the number of tickets you want (). For example, if you are going to Beijing, you can say: 到北京(Dào Běijīng.) I am going to Beijing.💳

After asking for the destination and number of tickets, the ticket seller will ask you what kind of seat you want. There are three types of seats: 硬座(yìng zuò), or hard seat; 硬卧(yìng wò), or hard sleeper; and 软卧(ruan wò), or soft sleeper. Each type of seat has its own advantages and disadvantages.💳

In this lesson, we will learn some key phrases to help you buy a train ticket in China, including: 到哪(Dào nǎ?), where are you going?;
几张(Jǐ zhāng?), how many tickets you want?;
一张(yì zhāng), one ticket?;
到北京(Dào Běijīng.), I am going to Beijing?;
一张到北京的票(Yìzhāng dào Běijīng de piào.), one ticket going to Beijing?;
硬座(yìng zuò), hard seat?;
硬卧(yìng wò), hard sleeper?;
软卧(ruan wò), soft sleeper?;
和(zhè me), how?;
几(jǐ), how many?;
张(zhāng), ticket?;
到(dào), arrive?;
哪(nǎ), which?;
的(de), possessive particle?;