Child discounts on China trains

Children traveling on trains in China may qualify for child discounts and can sometimes travel for free.

It should be noted that discounts are not related to the age of the child but rather to their height. Children under 1.2 meters can travel for free on seats or beds. However, they do not get their own seat or bed and need to share with an adult (or other child).  If this is not a practical solution, a parent can still buy a ticket for such a child to have his own seat or bed. In this case, the ticket can be bought at a discounted price (see below).

If a child is under 1.5 meters, it is possible to get a discounted ticket. On seats the discount is 50% off the normal price. For beds, it is a complicated formula that generally results in a discount of about 25%.

For children over 1.5 meters, they must pay the normal fare. Note that there are measuring signs on the wall in train stations and on trains to check the height of the children.

While a passport is required to book and pick-up trains tickets in China, in the case of these child tickets, they can be booked under a parent’s passport. So there is no need to show or even have a passport for the child. This is useful in the case of adoptions in China.

There is not student discount for tourists in China.