How to collect train tickets in China
After you booking China train tickets with PandaTrips, foreign travellers have to pick up tickets to board trains, you should only pick up tickets at the ticket counter tops of railway stations or certified train ticket agency.
Why you should Collect Tickets
In China, you will need paper train tickets to get into your train. So even if you have already got e-tickets displaying your ID information, train information, and booking number, you will still need to collect them to board the train.
You can't use your booking information to board a train, there's no e-ticketing or on-train ticketing.
What Do I Need to Pick Up China Train Tickets?
You need two things to pick up your train tickets: the ticket booking number and the valid ID used for booking the tickets. For most foreign nationals, the ID will be your passport.
1. Train ticket's Booking number (aslo called pickup number or collect number)
After your train ticket payment has gone through PandaTrips system successfully, you should receive an email with your train ticket booking number at the email address you provided when you booked your China train tickets.
Also you'll be given with information regarding your train number, departure/arrival time and station, and seat class. Backup the booking number on a paper or screenshot it with your phone, and ensure they're readable.
2. Booking Passport
Make sure that you have the passport of booking your tickets, when you collect them.
When You Should Collect Tickets
Once you have received a ticket pickup number, you can head to the train station or train ticket office whenever you'd like.
If you decide to collect your China train ticket the day of your departure, be sure to allow enough time. Lines to pick up tickets and go through security can be long, especially at peak travel times like holidays, summer and just before weekends. It's a good idea to go to the train station at least an hour in advance since you have to both collect your train ticket and clear the train station's security check. If you are traveling before or during a Chinese public holiday, like Chinese New Year or the October National Day holiday, you may want to arrive at the train station a couple of hours before departure, or collect your tickets in advance.
Where to Collect Tickets
1.Railway Station Ticket Windows
After booking a train ticket in China via PandaTrips, you can pick up your ticket at any train station in Mainland China.
Most large cities in China have more than one train station,.Make sure to check which train station you depart from.Once you arrive at the train station, you need to find the ticket office. Look for the characters “取票” (pronounced “qŭ piào”) for ticket pickup or “售票” (pronounced “shòu piào”) for ticket sales if signs aren't available in English. Some railway stations only have one counter for both sales and ticket pickup. Others have a dedicated pickup counter for those who booked tickets by phone or online. Self-service ticket pickup machines can be found at some stations, but are only accessible with Chinese ID cards.
Don't Line Up at the Wrong Windows. In the ticketing hall, there are many ticket windows for different functions. Passengers can buy or collect train tickets for all routes, destinations, and train types at most of the ticket windows. There are, however, two or three exclusive ticket windows used for ticket refunds, cancellations, or endorsing.
2.Authorized train ticket office
You can pick up your train tickets at an authorized train ticket office(火车票代售点) – each city has several authorized office in downtown, for a CNY 5 fee per ticket.