While this topic has been covered a lot before, I’ll try to give a very bare-bones explaination.

Transportation

Trains

For long-distance travel this is the most convenient. The steps go as follows: Find a train that will go between your city and the city you’re trying to get to for a particular day and note it’s number (ie G1442 or K121). You can do this through many means:

• Wechat: In the “Wallet” section, look for the “Trains and Planes” option and click on it. You can choose the two cities and filter for fast/slow trains or by date. This is the most recommended option.
• 12306: The government website and most official way. I do not recommend using the website or app.
• Baidu Maps: Find directions between your city and anotehr city and choose the method of travel as public transport. It should give you some trains that go between the city

Buy the ticket, then pick up the ticket.

• Go into the train station and pay with cash or alipay/wechat: Say in chinese or slip them a paper saying the train number, what date, desired seat, and where your stop will be.
• Aforementioned Wechat method: Buy your ticket on there with wechat pay then pick up the ticket at a train station, either at a dedicated “Web Pickup” station or the normal ticket buying windows.