Types of Trains and Seat Classes in China

China offers a range of train types, broadly divided into high-speed and regular trains, each providing various seat classes.

China Train Types

Chinese trains are categorized into high-speed trains and regular trains. To identify the train class, you can refer to the letter prefixing the train number. The high-speed trains are classified as G, D, and C trains. On the other hand, Z, T, K, Y, and four-digit number trains are normal trains.

High-Speed Trains

Train numbers that are prefixed with the letters G, D, or C are high-speed trains.

1. G Trains (Chinese: 高铁; Pinyin: Gaotie)

G trains are theoretically the fastest high-speed trains in China, with top speeds reaching 350-400 kph (217-248 mph). They operate on ballastless tracks, allowing for greater speed compared to D trains. Most G trains are of the Fuxinghao type, the fastest model of high-speed trains in China. Most trains running between major cities like Beijing-Shanghai, Beijing-Xi'an, and Hong Kong-Guangzhou are G trains.

2. D Trains (Chinese: 动车; Pinyin: Dongche)

The key difference between G and D trains lies in their tracks: D trains operate on standard tracks shared with regular-speed trains, making them slower than G trains.

About half of D trains are Fuxinghao, with the other half being Hexiehao, China's first generation of high-speed trains, which has a top speed of 250 kph, slower than Fuxinghao. Most overnight D trains are Fuxinghao.

Most overnight D trains are Fuxinghao. Although D trains generally have lower speeds, their travel times can sometimes be shorter than G trains if G trains make more stops along the way.

3. C Trains (Chinese: 城际动车; Pinyin: Chengji Dongche)

C trains are intercity trains, which operate between neighboring cities, such as Beijing and Tianjin, Changsha and Zhuzhou, and Guangzhou and Shenzhen. C trains have lower top running speeds of 200 kph (124 mph). Both Fuxinghao and Hexiehao trains are widely used as C trains.

Regular Trains

The number of regular trains has significantly decreased with the rise of high-speed trains. However, regular trains still operate on some ultra-long routes, like Beijing to Xinjiang and routes to Tibet. Additionally, many tourists opt for overnight regular trains to save on hotel costs. Please check out the types of regular trains as below.

1. Z Trains (Chinese: 直达; Pinyin: Zhida)

Z trains are the fastest among regular trains, designed for long-distance travel between major cities with limited stops along the way. With a top speed of 160 kph (99 mph), they primarily operate on routes connecting capital cities like Beijing–Shanghai, Beijing–Xi’an, and Beijing–Lhasa.

2. T Trains (Chinese: 特快; Pinyin: Tekuai)

T trains, also known as express trains, are the second fastest type of regular train, with a top speed of 140 kph (87 mph) and fewer stops along the way. They operate on more routes than Z trains, with services available on lines like Beijing–Shanghai, Guangzhou–Shanghai, and Changsha–Shenzhen.

3. K Trains (Chinese: 快速; Pinyin: Kuaisu)

K trains are fast trains traveling at a top speed of 120 kph (74 mph). They have more stops along the way than T trains.

4. Ordinary Trains (Four Digits) (Chinese: 普快; Pinyin: Pukuai)

Ordinary trains have four-digit numbers without any letter prefix. They are the slowest type of train in China. These trains stop at nearly every city along the route. Today, most passengers choose this type of train for short-distance daytime trips.

5. Y Trains (Chinese: 旅游专列; Pinyin: Lvyou Zhuanlie)

Y trains are mainly designed for tourists, featuring coaches decorated with local styles. For example, the Y752 train from Kunming to Lijiang showcases designs inspired by ethnic minority groups and the region's famous mountains.

Facilities/Services on Trains in China

Trains in China offer a range of facilities and services to enhance passengers' travel experience. Here are some commonly available facilities and services:

Food Onboard

• A dining coach is available on coach 5, offering freshly cooked meals, boxed meals, and soft drinks.
• A trolley with snacks and soft drinks will go back and forth for passengers to buy food.
• Food offered on the trains is usually expensive and with limited choices.

Luggage

• Luggage Racks: Positioned above the seats, these racks are suitable for suitcases smaller than 26 inches and smaller bags.
• Luggage Closets: For larger suitcases, luggage closets located at the coach connections offer secure storage.
• Sleeper Coaches: In hard and soft sleeper classes, you can place luggage under the lower bunks or the table between the lower bunks; In soft sleeper class, small closets beside the upper bunks are available for storing smaller bags.

Toilets

• Toilets and washbasins are available at the end of every car. High-speed trains have both Western-style and squat toilets. Regular trains only have squat toilets. On high-speed trains, there is a handicapped washroom with a Western-style toilet and a changing table in coach 5. Regular trains don’t have handicapped washrooms.
• Regular Trains: Only squat toilets are provided. There are no dedicated handicapped washrooms.

Toilet paper is provided but it always runs out. It is a good idea to take your own toilet paper.

Seat Classes

Seat classes on high-speed trains are different from seat classes on regular trains. Daytime high-speed trains offer three seat classes: business class, first class, and second class.

Overnight high-speed trains provide soft sleeper, hard sleeper, and second-class options. Regular trains offer a range of classes including superior soft sleeper, soft sleeper, hard sleeper, soft seat, and hard seat.

Seat Classes on High-Speed Trains

Daytime high-speed trains have business class, first class, and second class. Overnight high-speed trains have soft sleeper and second class.

Business Class (Chinese: 商务座)

Business class is usually in the first or last coach of a high-speed train. Business class is the most expensive type of seat. The ticket fare is twice as much as first class and three times that of a second-class ticket.

What business class is like:

• Business class seats are leather seats, which are soft and comfortable. They can be reclined to a flat position, enabling you to lie down completely. The total length of the flat seat is 180–190 cm.
• There are two or three seats in a row, configurated as A+F for the first row and AC+F for the other rows. Seats A and F are located by the window and seat C is the aisle seat.
• On some high-speed trains, the first row of seats (A+F) are not located by the window.
• An automatic door separates business class and other seat classes to provide a private and quiet environment.
• Each seat is equipped with a reading lamp.
• A foldable tray table can be found in the armrest for you to put your magazine or electronic device on.
• A small TV and a power socket can also be found in the armrest.

Services provided for business class:

• Business class passengers can wait in the VIP waiting lounge at the train station, which is quieter and has Wi-Fi available.
• The VIP lounge allows business class passengers to have a fast check-in process and to board earlier.
• Snacks and soft drinks are offered for free in business class.

First Class (Chinese: 一等座)

First class is also located in the front or back coach of a high-speed train — only one or two first class coaches are available. Compared to second class, first class is quieter and more comfortable.

The ticket fare for a first-class ticket is almost twice as much as a second-class ticket.

What first class is like:

• There are four seats in a row arranged as AC+DF. Seats A and F are window seats while seats C and D are aisle seats.
• Each first-class seat is 47.5 cm in width. The seatback is adjustable.
• The distance between two rows is about 50 cm, which provides more legroom than second class.
• There is a foldable tray table in the armrest.
• Power sockets are located underneath the seats.

Second Class (Chinese: 二等座)

Second class is the most common and cheapest class on high-speed trains. Second-class seats have less elbow and legroom than those in first class. There are no automatic doors to separate the coaches from each other so, compared to first class, second class can be noisier.

What second class is like:

• There are five seats in a row arranged as ABC+DF. Seats A and F are window seats (but not all the A/F seats have a window view). Seats C and D are aisle seats. Seat B is in the middle between two seats.
• The seatbacks can be adjusted slightly.
• A second-class seat is 43 cm in width, which is narrower than a first-class seat.
• The distance between two rows is 40 cm.
• A foldable tray table is attached to each seatback.
• Each row has one or two power sockets, which are located underneath the seats.
• A Western or squat-style toilet is available for each coach.

Soft Sleeper (Chinese: 软卧)

Soft sleepers are available on overnight high-speed trains, which are all D trains. There are two types of soft sleeper: an ordinary soft sleeper and a new soft sleeper.

1. Ordinary Soft Sleeper

An ordinary soft sleeper consists of private compartments with four bunks inside — two upper bunks and two lower bunks. There are eight compartments in each soft sleeper coach.

Each compartment has a door that can be locked from the inside to provide a private and quiet environment.

The vertical space for both soft sleeper bunks is spacious enough for passengers to sit up. Each bunk is 75 cm in width and 190 cm in length. The distance between the two lower bunks is about 50 cm.

The lower bunk is 90 cm and the upper bunk is 80 cm in height. The lower bunk is slightly more expensive than the upper bunk.

There is a small table between the two lower bunks. A pillow and blanket are provided for each bunk.

Besides the luggage rack, passengers’ baggage can also be put under the lower berths or table, or in the closets beside the upper bunks.

2. New Soft Sleeper

This type of soft sleeper was newly put into service in 2017. Unlike an ordinary soft sleeper, a new soft sleeper doesn’t have private compartments.

There are two rows of double-decker bunks on two sides of the coach. Both rows and the aisle are parallel to the train’s running direction.

Each berth is located by the window. A curtain is provided for each bunk for privacy. Each bunk is also equipped with a reading lamp, a power socket, a small foldable table, and a coat rack.

Seat Classes on Regular Trains

Regular trains have deluxe soft sleeper, soft sleeper, hard sleeper, and hard seat classes.

Deluxe Soft Sleeper

A deluxe soft sleeper is the most luxurious class on regular trains and is only available on a few trains. The ticket price is twice as much as a soft sleeper ticket.

Each deluxe soft sleeper coach has 8–10 private compartments with two bunks (one lower and one upper) in each compartment. Each compartment has a lockable door for privacy.

A deluxe soft sleeper bunk is 85 cm in width. The lower bunk is 95 cm in height and the upper bunk is 80 cm in height. Passengers can sit up straight on both bunks.

There is also a sofa, a small table, closets, and power sockets inside the compartment. On some trains, each deluxe soft sleeper compartment has its own washbasin and toilet.

Soft Sleeper

Soft sleepers on regular trains are the same as on high-speed trains. The only difference is that the facilities on high-speed trains are newer and well-maintained.

On regular trains, a soft sleeper ticket fare is about 1½ times that of a hard sleeper ticket.

Hard Sleeper

A hard sleeper is popular with budget travelers. The ticket fare is cheaper than a soft sleeper ticket.

Hard sleeper compartments have an open-plan design. There is no door or curtain for privacy. Each compartment has six bunks (two upper bunks, two middle bunks, and two lower bunks). The prices for the lower/middle/upper bunks are not the same — they increase in price: lower>middle>upper.

A hard sleeper bunk is narrower than a soft sleeper bunk. Each bunk is 60 cm in width and 180 cm in length.

The bunk’s height is 90 cm, 65 cm, and 65 cm for the lower, middle, and upper bunk, respectively. Passengers on middle and upper bunks can hardly sit up straight. During the daytime, some passengers will sit on the lower bunks, using them as public couches.

Hard Seat

The hard seat class is available on all regular trains. The ticket fare is the cheapest among all the classes.

Each hard seat coach has 118 seats comprised of three-seat benches and two-seat benches. Each row has a three-seat bench and a two-seat bench on either side of the aisle.

Every set of two rows is arranged face-to-face. Some seats face the opposite direction to the way the train is going. The seats are hard and the seatback is not adjustable.

Passengers holding standing tickets will stand in the hard seat coaches. During holiday periods, it is very crowded, noisy, and smelly in hard seat coaches with people standing in the aisles, coach connections, and even in the toilets.

It is not recommended to book hard seat tickets during holiday periods or for a train journey that is longer than 5 hours.

Cooperate with us!

Do you have a website? Do you want to earn more from your website? We would like to help you to do it. You can place a link to us or integrate a train tickets search engine on your website. Once there are successful bookings generated from your website, we will pay commission. See more details on our affiliate program page.

You Might Want to Know