Large cities in China rarely have just one train station—usually there are two or three, and sometimes even four—and high-speed trains often depart from a different station than regular ones. Getting the station wrong is the most frustrating mistake you can make before a trip: arriving at the wrong place an hour before departure and then not being able to get to the correct station across the city.
The main rule: look at the station name on your ticket
A Chinese station’s name almost always consists of the city’s name plus a cardinal direction—Bei (北, North), Nan (南, South), Xi (西, West) or Dong (东, East). These aren’t different platforms within one station; they are physically separate buildings, often a half-hour ride apart by subway or taxi. The only reliable way not to make a mistake is to check the station name directly on your ticket or in the app, rather than assuming that “since it’s the same city, there must be just one station.”
Beijing: Four stations for different directions
- Beijing South (北京南)—the main station for high-speed G and C trains to Shanghai, Tianjin, Nanjing, and Hangzhou.
- Beijing West (北京西)—serves both high-speed and regular overnight long-distance trains: Xi’an, Chengdu, Chongqing, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong.
- Beijing Station (北京站)—a historic station from the 1950s in the city center, for regular trains to the northeast and eastern coast, as well as international routes to Moscow and Pyongyang.
- Beijing Chaoyang (北京朝阳)—a newer station, high-speed trains to northeastern China.
Shanghai: Hongqiao – the main hub, not the familiar “Shanghai Station”
Shanghai Hongqiao (上海虹桥) is the city’s main high-speed rail station, located right next to Hongqiao Airport’s second terminal: it’s one of the largest transportation hubs in East Asia, combining a train station, metro, and airport into a single complex. The “Shanghai Station” (上海站) – an entirely different building – is situated closer to the historic city center, north of People’s Square, and isn’t directly connected to the airport. If you are arriving or departing via Hongqiao and planning to transfer to a train, you need Hongqiao, not “just Shanghai Station.”
Xi’an: North Station is far from the center, but has direct metro
Xi’an Bei, North Station (西安北) – is a station for high-speed trains only, located 14 km from the Drum and Bell Towers in the city center. The distance is compensated by a direct metro line (Line 2), which gets you to the center quickly and without transfers. Xi’an’s regular railway station (西安站) – is situated near the north gate of the old city and serves only classic long-distance trains, including overnight express services; high-speed trains do not stop here.
Guilin: Up to four stations, and not all are equally convenient for tourists
Guilin has as many as four stations with high-speed service, but in practice, two are important for tourists. Guilin Bei, North Station (桂林北) – is the most touristically convenient: a special sightseeing bus runs from here to Reed Flute Cave and other main attractions of the city on a schedule (departures at 8:30, 11:00, 14:00, and 16:30). Guilin Xi, West Station (桂林西) – also accepts high-speed trains, but is less convenient in terms of tourist infrastructure and public transport to the center. When purchasing a ticket, be sure to specify the exact station on the route – matching cities doesn’t guarantee matching stations.
Guangzhou: Southern hub 17 km from the center
Guangzhou Nan, South Station (广州南) – is one of China’s largest transportation hubs, the terminus of the Beijing–Guangzhou high-speed railway and a junction for several lines, including high-speed service to Shenzhen and Hong Kong. It’s located 17 km from the city center, in the Panyu district, but connected to the center by three metro lines (2, 7, and 22) – getting to the center is quick and without taxi transfers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know which train station my train departs from? The name of the station is always indicated on the ticket itself and in the booking app (Trip.com, 12306) — rely on that name, not the city name.
What do the prefixes “Běi,” “Nán,” “Xi,” “Dōng” mean in a station’s name? These are directions in Chinese – North, South, West and East respectively. They indicate separate, physically distinct train stations within one city.
Which Shanghai station is connected to the airport? Hongqiao Railway Station—it’s located near Terminal 2 of Hongqiao Airport. The regular “Shanghai” station isn’t connected to the airport.
How far is Xi’an Běi station from the city center? About 14 km from the Drum and Bell Towers, but Metro Line 2 connects it directly to the city center with no transfers.
Which Guilin station do I need for a trip to Reed Flute Cave? Guilin Běi (North) — there’s a special tourist bus running on a schedule directly to the main attractions of the city from there.
See also: China’s high-speed trains, Trip.com for Russians, the Terracotta Army in Xi’an.
Guangzhou Hotels: all hotels · Tianhe · Yuexiu · near Baiyun Airport.
