Community advice from r/travelchina and r/chinatravel highlights a few themes.
High-speed rail basics
- Popular routes sell out; book early when possible.
- Some travelers find the official 12306 app hard to verify with foreign documents, while others prefer it to avoid extra fees.
- Trip.com is commonly mentioned as an easier booking option if 12306 verification fails.
- Many travelers report that passports act as train tickets at station gates, but keep your booking details handy.
Ride-hailing and city transit
- Didi is widely used and can be accessed inside Alipay or WeChat.
- Metro systems are extensive; many cities support QR ticketing in local apps.
Planning transfers
- High-speed rail is a favorite for mid-range distances; flights for long jumps.
- Build buffer time for stations and security checks.
Source note: compiled from ticketing and transport threads in r/travelchina and r/chinatravel.