High-speed rail: book on the official app, and know the ID rule

China's high-speed trains are the best way between cities: Beijing–Shanghai in about four and a half hours, Shanghai–Hangzhou in under an hour. Book on the official 12306 app or site with your passport; your passport is your ticket, scanned at the gate. Arrive 30 minutes early for the security check. Second class is comfortable; business class is a splurge. Didi is the ride-hailing app and works in English.