China train guide · checked October 2026
Beijing to Tianjin by train
Tianjin makes an easy day trip from Beijing: one of the fastest intercity lines in China takes you there in about half an hour.
- Journey timeabout 30–35 minutes
- Fastest train30 min
- Second classfrom ¥55 (about 32 PLN)
- How oftenevery 10–20 minutes, almost like a metro
Stations
Show the Chinese name to your taxi driver.
Intercity trains to Tianjin leave from Beijing South (metro lines 4 and 14).
The central station on the Haihe River, across the water from the Italian Quarter.
Good to know
- Some trains stop at Tianjin West or Tianjin South instead – for the Italian Quarter and the river, pick Tianjin station.
- Tickets are for a specific train and seat, and weekend trains sell out – book even a short hop in advance.
Other ways: There's no faster way – a car or bus takes 2 hours or more.
On the way
The Beijing–Tianjin intercity line opened just before the 2008 Olympics as China's first railway built for speeds above 300 km/h. The ride is so short that you barely have time to finish a coffee.
When you arrive
Tianjin station stands on the Hai River, and the Italian Quarter – the only Italian concession in Asia – is a short walk across the water. The Five Great Avenues (Wudadao), with over 2,000 villas from the concession era, are a short taxi or metro ride away, and in the evening the Tianjin Eye, a Ferris wheel built on a bridge, is lit up over the river (about ¥70).
How to book
- Buy on Trip.com (English, foreign cards) or in the official 12306 app – tickets go on sale 15 days before departure.
- Your passport is your ticket: you book with its number and scan it at the gates. Bring the same passport you booked with.
- Be at the station 40–60 minutes early: there is a security check at the entrance, and gates close a few minutes before departure.
- Big suitcases fit at the end of each carriage or on the racks above the seats.
Times and fares are typical values for second class, checked in October 2026. Fares are dynamic (peak trains cost more) and timetables change – check the live timetable on Trip.com or 12306 before you travel.
Frequently asked questions
Can you visit Tianjin as a day trip from Beijing?
Yes. With trains every 10–20 minutes and a 30-minute ride, you can leave after breakfast and be back in Beijing for dinner. Book the return trip too, especially at weekends.
Which Beijing station do trains to Tianjin leave from?
Almost all fast intercity trains leave from Beijing South (metro lines 4 and 14). Trains from other stations are slower or arrive at Tianjin West or Tianjin South.
