If it’s your first time visiting Beijing Chaoyang Station, you might find yourself a little bit confused about how to get to the station, how to buy tickets, and how to get on the train.
Don’t worry. Today, a foreign friend will show you everything you need to know on his trip to Harbin, one of China’s increasingly popular travel destinations.
How to get to the Chaoyang Station
The Beijing-Shenyang Passenger Line begins and ends at Beijing Chaoyang Station, which means if you’re taking the high speed rail to northeast China, chances are you’re going to start your journey right here.
You can take a taxi to get to the station just as our friend does, or you can opt for public transportation like buses or ride hailing services as well. But just remember to confirm which station you’re going to, because there are a lot of different train stations in Beijing.
Security checks are of course a necessary step before boarding the train.
Upon entering the station,the security personnel will carry out checks on both passengers and our carry-on items.
Prohibited articles include: the usual explosive and flammable items such as fireworks, firecrackers or things that might resemble these items, as well as alcohol, kerosene, gasoline, poisonous substances and highly toxic pesticides such as rodenticides.
To avoid missing your train, it’s best to arrive at the station at least thirty minutes earlier, allowing ample time for the security check.
How to buy tickets
Foreigners in China could potentially face challenges when it comes to using self-service ticket machines. However, at Beijing Chaoyang Station this isn’t a big problem because it offers an English system here with English voice prompts for important steps like selecting your train number and departure time, which makes it a lot more convenient to buy tickets on your own.
However, If you accidentally booked the wrong ticket, don’t worry, you can change your ticket or get a refund at the comprehensive service counter where the staff will help you.
If you buy your ticket online with your phone, you can change your ticket directly online. For more information on changing your ticket, check out the following.
But remember tickets can only be changed one time.
How to get on the train
After buying your ticket, you can take your passport to the ID verification desk where the staff will check your passport before allowing you into the station.
After entering the station, on the big screen here, you can see all the different train numbers, when they leave, and where you board the train.
The train to Harbin for example, is boarding here at entrance 6B and everyone’s already lining up for the ticket check.
For foreigners, they usually head for the manned entrance to have their tickets checked and after showing their passport to the staff, they can board the train smoothly.
Look! Here comes the train! Our friend has successfully embarked on his trip to Harbin, isn’t that easy and simple?
