As much as train travel in China can be one of the most efficient ways to get around, as well as a great cultural experience, planning your journey and buying your tickets can be a complicated and frustrating one.

Putting an end to train planning misery is www.cnvol.com. An excellent, English language resource it contains full details of every major, and many minor, routes in China, with prices and schedules to boot.

They may not be able to actually book tickets for you but they do have a list of all the ticket outlets in your area and besides, getting your ticket is a doddle once you know the train number and pricing system to ask for. I've found it incredibly useful already this year - just be sure to book tickets with a few days' notice if you plan to travel on particularly busy routes and take a peek at this useful guide on where, when and how to buy tickets, from the man in Seat 61.