Chaozhou High-Speed Train Guide

Traveling to Chaozhou by high-speed train is one of the easiest and fastest ways to reach this historic city in eastern Guangdong Province. Thanks to China's extensive high-speed railway network, visitors can travel conveniently from Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Xiamen, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Wuhan, and many other cities. Although Chaozhou itself is famous for its ancient streets, traditional Teochew culture, and local cuisine, many first-time international visitors are confused by the railway system. The city's main railway hub is not called Chaozhou Railway Station, but Chaoshan Railway Station, which is located about 18 km from Chaozhou Ancient City.

This guide explains everything you need to know about taking the high-speed train to Chaozhou, including railway stations, train routes, schedules, ticket prices, and practical tips for foreign travelers.
 

Chaozhou Railway Network Overview

Chaozhou has developed a multi-layered railway network consisting of high-speed railways, a newly upgraded passenger station, a conventional railway, and several major railway projects currently under construction. 

At present, Chaozhou has four railway stations:

• Chaoshan Railway Station – the main high-speed railway hub for most travelers
• Raoping Railway Station – serving Raoping County and the eastern part of Chaozhou
• Chao'an Railway Station – a newly upgraded passenger station that opened in 2025
• Chaozhou Railway Station – a former conventional railway station that no longer handles passenger services and is now used for freight only
   

The city is currently connected by three operational railway lines:

• Xiamen–Shenzhen High-Speed Railway, one of China's major coastal high-speed rail corridors
• Meizhou–Chaoshan High-Speed Railway, linking eastern Guangdong with Meizhou and inland China
• Guangzhou–Meizhou–Shantou Railway, a conventional railway that now serves freight traffic within Chaozhou

In addition, two important railway projects are under construction:

• Zhangzhou–Shantou High-Speed Railway, a new 350 km/h coastal high-speed line expected to further reduce travel times between Fujian and Guangdong.
• Eastern Guangdong Intercity Railway, which will connect the city centers of Chaozhou, Shantou, and Jieyang with frequent metro-style services.

Once these projects are completed, Chaozhou will have an even more comprehensive railway network, combining national high-speed rail corridors, regional high-speed rail services, urban intercity railways, and county-level stations. Travelers will enjoy faster connections not only to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and Fujian Province, but also to many major cities across China.
 

Railway Stations in Chaozhou

1. Chaoshan Railway Station (潮汕站) – The Main Station for Tourists

If you are planning to visit Chaozhou, Chaoshan Railway Station is almost certainly the station you should use.

Location and basic background: The station sits in Shaxi Town, Chao’an District, under the administration of China Railway Guangzhou Group as a Class‑1 railway station. It stands 18 kilometers from Chaozhou Ancient City, 22 kilometers from downtown Shantou, 23 kilometers from Jieyang city center and merely 8 kilometers from Jieyang Chaoshan International Airport. This single station serves three major cities including Chaozhou, Shantou and Jieyang together, which explains why it ranks as Eastern Guangdong’s largest high‑speed‑rail hub. 

It first opened for passengers together with the Xiamen‑Shenzhen High‑Speed Railway in 2013. After the Meizhou‑Chaoshan High‑Speed Railway launched service in October 2019, Chaoshan Station became a transfer node linking two high‑speed‑rail lines. A modern and spacious south station building opened in 2022 with updated rest areas, international‑standard washrooms and English‑marked direction boards, which greatly improves traveling experiences for foreign guests. 

Train schedule and reachable destinations: Chaoshan Railway Station has the largest number of daily trains among all stations around Chaozhou, with G‑trains, D‑trains and newly‑added C‑prefix intercity‑type trains running every 20‑40 minutes during daytime hours. Tourists can take direct high‑speed trains to Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Huizhou, Xiamen, Fuzhou, Wenzhou, Hangzhou, Shanghai Hongqiao, Nanjing, Nanchang, Wuhan and Yiwu without extra transfers. 

After the timetable update on July 1, 2026, two new convenient train services were launched: Train C885‑1 departs directly from Chaoshan Station to Shenzhen North, and some trains terminate at Guangzhou East Station. A loop‑line of Eastern Guangdong also starts operating, making daily commutes between Chaozhou and Pearl River Delta extremely efficient. Normally the one‑way trip from Chaoshan Station to Shenzhen North only takes 1 hour and 40 minutes, while the journey to Guangzhou South lasts roughly 2 hours.

Important tips for tourists:
1. The station has north and south arrival plazas. If you take a taxi or online car‑hailing service to Chaozhou Ancient City, leave from the south square, where licensed cars gather and drivers are more familiar with hotel addresses in Paifang Street. Avoid unlicensed private‑car drivers who approach you as soon as you exit the station; they often overcharge foreign visitors without clear price lists.

2. Official K1 and K2 shuttle buses run between Chaoshan Station and downtown Chaozhou. The fare is 8 RMB per passenger and the whole trip takes around 40 minutes. Bus signs have both Chinese and English words, but most bus drivers cannot speak English. You need to show the Chinese name of your stop (“Nanqiao Market for Paifang Street”) to drivers or prepare a screenshot to avoid getting off at the wrong station.
 

2. Raoping Railway Station (饶平站)

This station is located in Gaotang Town of Raoping County and marks the first high‑speed‑rail station of Xiamen‑Shenzhen High‑Speed Railway after entering Guangdong Province. It was put into service in 2013 with two platforms and five rail‑track lines covered by large pillar‑free canopies. Around 45 EMU trains stop here every single day. Some C‑prefix intercity trains start their trips directly from Raoping Station to Guangzhou South Station, which brings huge convenience for local residents of northern Raoping County. Travelers can head north to Zhao’an, Yunxiao and Xiamen in Fujian Province and go south to Shantou and the Pearl River Delta from this station.

3. Chao'an Railway Station (潮安站)

Chao'an Railway Station is the newest passenger railway station in Chaozhou. Originally built as a freight station, it officially reopened for passenger services in January 2025 after extensive renovation. Located in Dongfeng Town of Chao'an District, the station connects to the Xiamen–Shenzhen High-Speed Railway via the Shantou Link Line.

4. Chaozhou Railway Station (潮州站)

Many visitors mistakenly search for "Chaozhou Railway Station." This station does exist, but it is not a passenger railway station anymore. Located in Fengxi District, it was built in 1995 as part of the conventional Guangzhou–Meizhou–Shantou Railway. After the opening of the Meizhou–Chaoshan High-Speed Railway in 2019, all passenger train services were discontinued. Today, the station handles freight only.
 

Which Railway Station Should You Choose?

For most travelers, Chaoshan Railway Station is the best choice. It has the most train services, is the most convenient for reaching Chaozhou Ancient City and other main tourist areas, and also offers easy transfers if you need to connect with Jieyang Chaoshan International Airport.
 

Chaoshan Station High-Speed Train Schedule & Fare Guide (Update on Jul 9, 2026)

Note: The above schedule is for reference only. For real-time schedule and ticket fare, please visit 12306 official website or APP.
 

Fully‑Operational Railway Lines

1. Xiamen‑Shenzhen High‑Speed Railway (250 km/h national coastal high‑speed‑rail backbone)

As a section of Hangzhou‑Shenzhen High‑Speed Railway, this 250‑km/h high‑speed‑rail line acts as Chaozhou’s most vital outward‑transport artery. It enters Guangdong through Raoping County of Chaozhou from Xiamen in Fujian Province and runs westward across Chao’an District along eastern Guangdong’s coastline. Two high‑speed‑rail stations are built within Chaozhou’s territory along this line: Chaoshan Railway Station and Raoping Railway Station.

2. Meizhou‑Chaoshan High‑Speed‑Rail Line (250 km/h, opened on 11 October 2019)

This high‑speed‑rail line stretches from Meizhou westward through Fengshun and Jieyang before finally connecting with Chaoshan Railway Station. It opens up a high‑speed‑rail channel for Chaozhou tourists heading to Meizhou and Heyuan. There is no separate high‑speed‑rail station built within Chaozhou for this line, so all passengers have to take trains from Chaoshan Station to reach Meizhou West Station. By taking the connecting railway between Meizhou‑Chaoshan High‑Speed Railway and Ganzhou‑Shenzhen High‑Speed Railway, visitors can travel via Meizhou and Heyuan to Huizhou North and Shenzhen. This alternative route helps tourists avoid over‑crowded trains on the Xiamen‑Shenzhen line during Chinese public holidays such as the Chinese Spring Festival or National‑Day break.

3. Xiamen‑Shenzhen High‑Speed‑Rail Shantou Connecting Line and Chao’an Railway Station

Chao’an Railway Station sits in Dongfeng Town of Chao’an District. It used to be a freight‑only station on the old Guangzhou‑Meizhou‑Shantou conventional railway. After comprehensive reconstruction, it started to receive passenger services on January 14, 2025 and links Xiamen‑Shenzhen High‑Speed Railway and Meizhou‑Chaoshan High‑Speed Railway through the Shantou connecting line. The launch of Chao’an Station fills the long‑time gap that central Chao’an District had no high‑speed‑rail station. Local visitors from Dongfeng and Anbu towns no longer need to drive more than 30 kilometers all the way to Shaxi‑based Chaoshan Station; they can take short‑distance trains to Shantou, Chaoshan Station and Guangzhou locally.

4. Guangzhou‑Meizhou‑Shantou Conventional Railway and Defunct Chaozhou Railway Station

The old Chaozhou Railway Station is situated on Xinfeng Road in Fengxi District and opened in 1995 as a Class‑2 conventional‑rail station. After Meizhou‑Chaoshan High‑Speed‑Rail started running in 2019, all slow‑speed passenger trains stopped operations completely. At present, this station only handles freight transport, and no old‑fashioned green‑skin passenger trains depart from here anymore. The railway authority will decide whether to restore passenger services in the future, so tourists cannot board any trains here for now. Many overseas travelers search for “Chaozhou Station” on map apps by mistake and end up arriving at this freight‑only station far away from high‑speed‑rail services, so you must fill in “Chaoshan Railway Station” rather than “Chaozhou Station” on your maps.