China High Speed Train Types

There are three China high speed train types: G Train, D Train and C Train. Trains starting with G, C and D are operated by CRH EMUs, forming a high-speed/high-speed train network in China. Therefore, if you want to book a high-speed train ticket, you need to select the train numbers starting with G, D, and C. All the  trains have the most advanced facilities in the world , air-conditioned and totally non-smoking. Read China High Speed Rail Tickets

Three Main Series of China High Speed Trains

Hexie Hao(和谐号)

Also known as CRH series EMUs, Hexie Hao is an umbrella term for the multiple unit high-speed trains under “China Railway High-speed Railway” brand, which is operated by China Railway. The
maximum operating speeds (MOR) of CRH1A, B, E, CRH2A, B, E and CRH5A are 200 km/h and up to 250 km/h. The MOR designed by CRH3C and CRH2C is 300 km/h, up to 350 km/h. 

Hexie Hao EMU usually starts with the word “D” (meaning ordinary EMU), running on the railways of Datong-Xian, Nanning-Guangzhou and Guizhou-Guangzhou, etc; some starts with the word “G” (meaning high-speed EMU), running on the railways of Wuhan-Guangzhou, Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong, Zhengzhou-Xian, Beijing-Guangzhou, etc; some starts with the word “C “(meaning Intercity EMU), running on the railways of Beijing-Tianjin, Chengdu-Mianyang-Leshan, etc.

Fuxing Hao(复兴号)

Fuxinghao is a series of electric multiple unit high-speed trains operated by China Railway Corporation and developed by CRRC. It is one of the fastest operational conventional trains in the world, with a design speed of 400 km/h (249 mph) for the CR400AF and CR400BF models.

Since April 10, 2018, the railway department has implemented a new train diagram. There will be 39 new pairs of “Fuxing Hao” trains starting in Beijing, in a total of 108.5 pairs. Among them, 8 pairs of Beijing-Shanghai high-speed trains and 31 pairs of Beijing-Tianjin inter-city trains have been added, and nearly 80% of Beijing-Tianjin inter-city trains have become “Fuxing Hao” trains. Fuxing Hao trains departing from Beijing has ran to 15 provincial capitals and municipalities. Starting from 0:00 on July 1, 2018, a new train diagram was implemented on the national railways, and 16 long-marshaled “Fuxing Hao” EMUs had been put into operation.

Vibrant Express(动感号)

Also known as MTR CRH380A, Vibrant Express is a train set ordered by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region through the MTR Corporation, which is used to run between Guangzhou South railway station and Hong Kong West Kowloon railway station It is the only high speed train model China exported.

The maximum running speed of the trains can be as high as 350 kilometers per hour, but at 300km/h on the mainland section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong high-speed railway and 200km/h on the Hong Kong section.

Three Types of China High Speed Trains

G Trains

The fastest trains among all the high speed trains in China. Long distance high-speed service with a speed of 250-400km/h. G-series trains take less time to reach their final destination because they stop at fewer stations on the route. The speed of G high-speed trains depends on the track. Some high-speed trains with cross-bureau and cross-line run at different speeds in different sections. The main types of trains serving the G-trains are CRH2C, CRH3C, CRH380 series, CR400AF (-A) and CR400BF (-A), etc.

G trains drive on ballast-free tracks, with leading and advanced operational outfits. They usually serve between major and popular cities in China. Bellow are the popular routes G trains runs.

Recommended Route Distance Duration Frequency Price
Beijing – Shanghai 1318km 4h18′ – 6h17′ 38 daily G trains Second Class Seat: CNY 553
First Class Seat: CNY 933
Business Class Seat: CNY 1748
Beijing – Xian 1216km 4h20′ – 6h2′ 17 daily G trains Second Class Seat: CNY 515.5
First Class Seat: CNY 824.5
Business Class Seat: CNY 1627.5
Xian – Shanghai 1509km 6~7.5 hours 9 daily G trains Second Class Seat: CNY 669.5
First Class Seat: CNY 1095
Business Class Seat: CNY 2114

Recommended China Tours with G Trains:
5 Days Shanghai and Yellow Mountain Tour by Speed Train
8 Days Beijing-Xian-Shanghai Tour by Speed Train

D Trains

The speed of D trains is a little slower than that of G trains. Maximum speed of D trains is 200–250 km/h (120–160 mph). With many stops along the route from big cities to small counties, they basically have it all covered. Only D-series operate overnight high speed trains in China. Generally, CRH1, CRH2, CRH3, CRH5 of Hexie Hao are used for D trains

Bellow are the popular routes D trains runs.

Recommended Route Distance Duration Frequency Price
Guilin-Guangzhou 857km 2.5-3.5 hours 40 daily D trains Second Class Seat: CNY 156-173
First Class Seat: CNY 250-277
Business Class Seat: CNY 493
Guilin-Guiyang 423km 2-3 hours 37 daily D trains Second Class Seat: CNY 137.5-166.5
First Class Seat: CNY 221-268
Business Class Seat: CNY 482.5
Chengdu-Chongqing 310km 1.5-2.5 hours 28 daily D trains Second Class Seat: CNY 96-121
First Class Seat: CNY 155-193
Business Class Seat: CNY 289.5
Lanzhou-Urumqi 1777km 12~12.5 hours 4 daily D trains Second Class Seat: CNY 551-554
First Class Seat: CNY 882-887

Recommended China Tours with D Trains:
5 Days Guangzhou and Guilin Tour
10 Days China Silk Road Tour by Speed Train from Lanzhou to Urumqi

C Trains

C trains are inter-city trains running between adjacent areas/cities. Some big cities also have C trains running between the central railway station and the airport. They usually travel at speeds below 200 km/h. By May 2018, more than 260 railway stations had passed by train C. Bellow are the popular routes C trains runs.

Recommended Route Distance Duration Frequency Price
Beijing-Tianjin 120km 0.5 hour 118 daily C trains Second Class Seat: CNY 54.5
First Class Seat: CNY 88-99
Business Class Seat: CNY 152-162
Guangzhou-Shenzhen 102km 1.5 hours 91 daily C trains Second Class Seat: CNY 79.5
First Class Seat: CNY 99.5
Chengdu-Leshan 135km 1 hour 18 daily C trains Second Class Seat: CNY 54
First Class Seat: CNY 86

Recommended China Tours with C Trains:
2 Days Chengdu Leshan Group Tour

China Speed Train Tours

China has one of the biggest and busiest rail networks in the world. In recent years, the high-speed trains are much more convenient and faster to get to the hot tourist destinations like Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Guilin, Chengdu, Kunming and more. There are many world-class scenery along the Chinese railway that cannot be appreciated by plane. Sometimes, it is the fatest way to get around. The following China speed train tour packages are carefully designed catering to your different needs and interests. Enquire about one of our pre-designed speed train tour packages or just tell us your China train plan to customize the kind of your own.

6 Days Shanghai-Suzhou-Hangzhou Tour by Speed Train

9 Days Southern China Tour

25 Days South China Minorities Discovery by Speed Train

See more China Speed Train Tours.