In China, there are totally five types of seats or sleepers on trains. They are hard seat, soft seat, hard sleeper, soft sleeper and deluxe soft sleeper. The ticket price depends on the type of the seats or sleepers. Hard seat is the cheapest, while deluxe soft sleeper is the highest.

The trains can also be classified according to the time duration, normally indicated by the train number. Z stands for air-conditioned direct express; T stands for air-conditioned express; K stands for air-conditioned; L stands for temporarily added train; others are not air-conditioned.

Normally foreigners would like to take Z or T type train by soft sleeper or deluxe soft sleeper. Firstly, it is fast. Secondly, it is comfortable. Normally there are four beds of two storey in a soft sleeper cabin and two beds in a deluxe soft sleeper.

deluxe soft sleeper- a cabin with 2 berths, lockable door, some Z trains' Deluxe have in-room toilet

soft sleeper- a cabin with 4 berths, lockable door, no in-room toilet

hard sleeper - a cabin with 6 berths, no lockable door, no in-room toilet

hard seat - a open space with 4 seats, no lockable door, no in-room toilet

Arriving at the railway station one hour in advance is suggested for travellers who are planning to take train trip in China, for passengers need to get on the train half an hour before the train departs. 

The following is a sample of Chinese train ticket from Xian to Shanghai

Destination:  Xian to Shanghai 
Train No.: T166
Dep. Time: 21:50 April 11, 2007 
Carriage No.: 05     
Sleeper No.: 015
Sleeper Type: Soft Sleeper 
Sleeper Location: lower sleeper  
Ticket Price: 511RMB