We started this site in 2010 because booking a train ticket in China as a foreigner was genuinely difficult. The official system was Chinese-only, station staff didn't speak English, and the few English booking sites at the time were unreliable or overpriced.
Things have improved since then — the 12306 app now has a basic English mode — but navigating China's rail system still trips up most first-time visitors. Which station do you go to? What's the difference between a G-train and a D-train? Can you actually buy tickets without a Chinese phone number?
That's where we come in.
What We Do
We help you search real-time train schedules, understand your options, and book tickets without needing to wrestle with Chinese-language interfaces. We also write practical travel guides based on routes we've actually taken — not recycled content from tourism boards.
Who We Are
A small team based in China. Some of us are Chinese, some are expats who've lived here for years. We all use the train system regularly — for work trips, weekend getaways, and the occasional 20-hour sleeper train adventure. When we write about a route or give advice, it comes from direct experience.
Our Approach
- Honest information. If a route is boring or a station is confusing, we'll tell you. We're not a tourism promotion board.
- Real prices. We show you what tickets actually cost. Our service fee is transparent and included in the quoted price.
- Practical advice. We focus on things that actually matter to travelers: which station to use, where to eat near the platform, how early to arrive.
Contact
Questions, feedback, or partnership inquiries — reach us at our contact page. We respond within one business day.