High speed train in China. How to buy a ticket?

As photographers and videographers, we often travel, going to filming in different cities. Arriving on time every time requires organization and the ability to navigate China. We often use the high-speed train 高铁 Gaothie.

Today we will take a high-speed train from Guangzhou to the picturesque village of Yangshuo, with its unique mountains, where Avatar was filmed.

• We'll show you how to buy tickets on WeChat
• Let's talk about first class on the high-speed train gaotie 高铁
• Life hacks on the way
• A simplified way of buying tickets for tourists. No more queues at the cash register.

First, we would like to recommend buying tickets in advance a day or two before the train departs, as they sell out quickly.

Places are divided into three categories:

1. First grade
2. Second class
3. Standing places

First grade

As a rule, these are separate carriages in which all seats are seated. Comfortable seats like business class on an airplane with the ability to stretch out your legs and charge your phone. Only those with appropriate seats are allowed in here. Second and third class cannot be here. 

Second class and standing room

Chinese high-speed trains are very comfortable. Second class is comfortable and relatively inexpensive; here you can move between carriages inside. Third class is standing room only. I would like to immediately talk about the difference between these classes. Other than the fact that there is no assigned standing room, there are no differences. The ticket price is the same. If you bought a standing ticket, this happens when seating tickets sell out quickly. You can still find a seat on the train. But in this case, if a passenger comes with a seat, you will need to give way to him. According to our version, such pricing is caused by cultural characteristics. So that those who sit do not think that those who are worth paid less, which means their solvency is in question. This is directly related to the Chinese concept of face. Read about what the Chinese concept of face is in the following articles.

It is very convenient to purchase tickets through the wechat application. To do this, log into your account 

Test of the new passport scanning system 2019

Previously, in order to purchase a ticket, you had to stand in line at the station at the ticket office. Even if you had already purchased an electronic ticket via Wechat in advance, you still needed to receive a paper version of it. To do this, you need to stand in line at the ticket office at the station. There was still an advantage to buying a ticket via Wechat. This is an opportunity to purchase tickets in advance, which sell out very quickly. Now, the procedure has changed and it is not necessary to have a paper ticket in hand. A foreign passport or Chinese ID is enough. This innovation saves a lot of time.

Life hacks

1. You can buy goodies in advance at Family Mart. Try the rice sandwich with gim and chicken, very tasty, reheat it there. Eating on the train is allowed.
2. If time is limited, enter any carriage. And go to your place inside. Usually 高铁 are always sent on time, sometimes a minute or two earlier. 
3. If you are late and don't have time to catch the train, don't worry. The ticket can be easily changed to the next flight within the same day at the ticket office and without additional charges.

Have a successful trip!

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