火车站。

Use it just like you would use 'train station' in English. You can place a city name before it for specific locations. For example, 北京火车站 is the Beijing Train Station. If you are taking a taxi, just say the name followed by 到了 (arrived). It is a noun, so it usually follows verbs like 去 (to go) or 在 (to be at).

Use it whenever you are traveling between cities. It is perfect for planning trips with friends. Use it when asking for directions on the street. It is also common in texting when sharing your location. If you are meeting someone, the 火车站 is a classic (though crowded) landmark.

Do not use this for the subway or metro. For the subway, you must use 地铁站 (dìtiězhàn). Even though they both have tracks, they are different systems. Also, do not use it for bus stops. A bus stop is a 公交站 (gōngjiāozhàn). Using the wrong one might send your taxi driver to the wrong side of town!

Train travel is the heartbeat of China. The 火车站 is more than just a transit hub. During the Spring Festival, these stations handle millions of people. It is a place of emotional reunions and tearful goodbyes. Modern Chinese stations are massive and look like airports. They are symbols of the country's rapid high-speed rail growth.

You might hear people say 高铁站 (gāotiězhàn). This specifically means a High-Speed Rail station. Many cities have an 'Old' station and a 'New' station. The old one is usually just 火车站. The new one is often 火车南站 (South Station) or 火车东站 (East Station). Always check which one your ticket specifies!