If you plan to visit China during the Chinese New Year, or 2-3 weeks ahead or behind it, it is best to try to get your tickets well in advance. Chinese living abroad and Chinese students at foreign universities try to get their tickets well in advance to return home during the holidays and university winter vacation periods.
China's major international airports are in Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Beijing. If you land in Hong Kong, instead of taking flights between Hong Kong and mainland cities, it is much cheaper to go to Shenzhen's Baoan airport or to go to Guangzhou. There are direct ferries between Hong Kong's International Airport and Shenzhen's Baoan airport. An alternative way to go to the Baoan Airport is to take the MTR train to the Luohu border, and then take the airport bus from the bus station at the border.
Trains
For those planning to travel by rail in China, the pre-holiday ticket sales are expected to peak around early January. Major cities such as Guangzhou and Chengdu will use a real-name ticket selling system. Some Chinese will use a telephone booking system. However, it is best for foreigners to buy their tickets in advance from train station ticket windows.
It is best for foreigners in China to go to the train ticket windows directly. There are unofficial people trying to sell tickets to foreigners in the stations who are called "touts," but they often are scamming or selling the tickets for a lot more than the window price. If possible, it is best to get a hi-speed CRH train ticket or a bed ticket on a regular train. The hard-seat compartments are generally crowded and uncomfortable. The no-seat tickets are very uncomfortable. There are several classes of tickets available. Read more on China train
Long-Distance Bus
Cities that are an overnight journey distance from each other are connected by overnight long-distance buses. Most of these buses have bunk beds and no seats. These are usually cheaper than hard-bed train tickets, but they are less comfortable. Foreigners are usually overcharged for tickets. There are both "official" buses and private buses. Both may give good service, but be careful about your belongings. The buses may not be clean, and many foreigners have difficulty sleeping. There are rarely bathrooms on the bus.
