During busy seasons tickets sell out rapidly at train stations. It may be better to get tickets in advance through an agent. In cities like Beijing there are also agents who sell train tickets in the normal time frame with a nominal markup. The convenience of avoiding a trip to the train station and waiting in the queue is well worth the small increase in cost. Travel agencies will accept money and bookings for train tickets in advance but no one can guarantee your ticket until the station releases them onto the market, at which point your agency will go and buy the ticket they had previously "guaranteed" you. This is how it works anywhere in China.
If you want to buy your tickets at the train station, expect long lines and do not expect English-speaking staff at station cash desks, even in big cities. And if the cashier finds some English-speaking colleague, don't expect that he can work with the reservation system. If you don't speak Chinese, write the departure and destination station, date and time of departure, train number and required class on paper.
High-speed trains are called CRH and train numbers have a "G", "C" or "D" prefix. If your route and budget allow, these are much the best way to get around. On the regular non-CRH trains there are five classes of travel. T-train soft sleeper compartment are the most comfortable mode of transportation and are still relatively cheap by Western standards. The soft sleeper compartments contain four bunks stacked two to a column (though some newer trains have two-bunk compartments), a latch able door for privacy, and are quite spacious. Soft seats are cloth-covered, generally reclining seats and are a special category that you will rarely find. These are only available on day trains between destinations of about 4-8 hours of travel time, as well as on all high speed trains. The three remaining classes are hard sleepers, hard seats and standing; they are cheap but not very comfortable.
Long distance trains will have a buffet or dining car, which serves hot but generaly not very tasty food. The menu will be entirely in Chinese, but if you're willing to take the chance, interpret some of the Chinese characters, or ask for common dishes by name, you can eat very well. If you are on a strict budget, wait until the train stops at a station. There are normally vendors on the platform who sell noodles, snacks, and fruit at better prices. Trains generally have boiled water available so bring tea, soups and instant noodles to make your own food.
You'll need your ticket to enter and exit the station - usually there will be an inspection at the departure hall entrance or the boarding gate and another at the exit gate. Once in the departure hall, follow the digital indicator boards to find the right boarding gate (they are in Chinese but will display the train service number which is printed at the top of your ticket). Approx. 10 minutes before boarding your train and platform will be announced and the gate will be opened, just follow the crowd to the platform - at larger stations the train will already be waiting, in smaller stations look for your car number written on the platform edge - make sure you're waiting in the right place because often the train will only stop for a couple of minutes.
Some railway stations have X-ray machines at the entrance. In these cases all the luggage has to be passed through to examine for the dangerous items. Once you put your luggage on the machine, remember to go to the other side and fetch them quickly to avoid that your luggage is taken either by mistake or on purpose.
Always spare some time before the departure time of your train. Generally speaking, you need to arrive at the railway station an hour before the train leaves. However, should you take a train during spring rush or holidays, you are advised to be two hours earlier.
