3.3 Which platform should I use for booking tickets?

Booking trains, flights and hotels in China: a practical guide

For many international travelers, one of the most stressful parts of planning a trip to China is how to actually book:

• High-speed train tickets
• Domestic flights
• Hotels and sometimes attraction tickets

Local Chinese platforms can be powerful but are often not friendly to first-time visitors.
The good news is that there is one platform that solves most of the pain points: Trip.com (the global brand of Ctrip).

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1. Why booking in China can feel hard

Before we look at solutions, it’s useful to understand the common problems:

1. Language barriers

   • Official sites such as China Railway’s 12306 are primarily in Chinese.
   • English versions, if they exist, can be incomplete or confusing.

2. Payment restrictions

   • Many Chinese platforms expect WeChat Pay or Alipay linked to a Chinese bank card.
   • International credit cards are often not accepted or are unreliable.

3. Phone number and ID verification

   • Registration may require a mainland China mobile number.
   • Systems are built around Chinese ID cards, so using a foreign passport can be less straightforward.

For most short-term visitors, fighting directly with these systems is not worth the time and frustration.

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2. Best solution: Trip.com (Ctrip’s international brand)

Trip.com is the global version of Ctrip, China’s largest online travel agency.
It is deeply integrated with Chinese transport and accommodation systems, but designed with international users in mind.

2.1 Key advantages of Trip.com

1. Full English and multilingual interface

   • Website and mobile app available in English and other major languages.
   • The entire flow – search, booking, payment, customer service – can be done in English.

2. International payment support

   • Accepts major international credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, etc.) and often PayPal.
   • You don’t need a Chinese bank card, WeChat Pay or Alipay to get started.

3. One-stop platform

   • Train tickets: Real-time integration with China Railway’s system, including high-speed and regular trains.
   • Flights: Domestic flights within China and international routes.
   • Hotels: From luxury brands to local budget hotels and guesthouses.
   • Extras: Airport transfers, attraction tickets, day tours and more.

4. 24/7 English customer support

   • Helpful if you need to change or cancel tickets, or deal with delays and disruptions.

5. Smooth integration with Chinese systems

   • Trains: For many routes, you can go directly to the gate with your passport (no need to collect a paper ticket in advance), as your booking is linked to your ID.
   • Flights: You get an electronic confirmation; just use your passport at check‑in counters.

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3. How to book a high-speed train ticket on Trip.com (example)

The exact screens may change over time, but the general process is:

1. Open the app or website

   • Select “Trains” or “High-Speed Rail”.

2. Enter your route and date

   • From: e.g. Beijing
   • To: e.g. Shanghai
   • Date: your travel date

3. Browse trains

   • You’ll see a list of trains with departure times, durations, seat classes and prices.
   • Choose your preferred departure time and seat type (Second Class, First Class, Business, etc.).

4. Enter passenger details

   • Add yourself as a passenger.
   • Make sure your name matches your passport exactly, and the passport number is correct.

5. Pay securely

   • Use an international credit card or PayPal (depending on availability in your region).

6. Receive confirmation

   • You will get a confirmation email and an in‑app notification.
   • For many routes, your passport is all you need to board; otherwise, follow the instructions if a ticket pickup is required.

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4. Final recommendation

Technically, you can:

• Queue at station ticket windows with your passport, or
• Try to register on local Chinese platforms with translation tools

But for most international visitors, this approach is time‑consuming and error‑prone.

If you want a smooth, low‑stress experience when booking trains, flights and hotels in China, the most practical choice is:

Use Trip.com as your main booking platform.

It acts as a bridge between China’s sophisticated travel infrastructure and your payment methods and language, so you can focus on enjoying the trip instead of fighting with systems.