Hi Peoples,
I'm looking to buy some train tickets from Chengdu-Xi'An-Beijing off the internet. I'm just not sure as which websites are reliable.
Hi Guys,
I was hoping someone might be able to help me. I'm looking to pre-organize my trains across China in January. Anyone had any luck booking these train journeys online and if they do, who with?
Many Chanks
Peter
Reply to this http://www.travelchinaguide.com/china-trains/
this might be ok. But I have never booked anything through them just looked for the times.
January in China is not a busy time for travellers so i think you will be able to get your tickets just at the stations fine.
Reply to this You can't really book online unfortunately. Tickets are sold just a few days in advance, and as far as I know the online travel agencies only arrange train tickets if you buy tours from them.
But there is lots of information on "seat61', I think you can order tickets, on some routes at least, through them. Otherwise you can ask your hotel/hostel or a travel agent to do it for you, once you arrive. That is more convenient, because most cities are huge (you don't mention where you are going) and just getting to the train station may take hours, not talking about the hundreds of people also wanting to buy tickets, obviously if you don't know Chinese it will be even worse. Trains in China is the cheapest means of transport so it is hugely popular. But it is a great way to travel. For shorter distances bus is a good alternative by the way, and I have never had problems getting bus tickets.
Reply to this I've had a look at the website you've mentioned bakika and it seems like they mail the tickets onto the hotel/hostel which is always something I'm a little dubious of. I'll be arriving into Chengdu 5 days before wanting 2 soft sleeper beds for the over night train into Xi'an. Am I cutting this too close? And can I sort my ticket from Xi'an into Beijing from Chengdu as well?
I just don't want to get caught out having to buy flights at the last minute because I'm traveling into the capital for chinese new year
Reply to this Well, If you are actually travelling in China by the end of Jan and around the Chinese New Year it might be a bit difficult to obtain train tickets.
Your hotel might be able to help you. Ask them if they could book tickets for you. And ask them about the Xian - Beijing tickets too. Other than that I don't really know what to do.
Good luck,
Bakika
Ps. I live in China but to avoid the crowd during Spring Festival I leave the country.
Reply to this 
