Read this first
One rule: the passport is the ticket
China Railway uses real-name ticketing. The passport you use to buy the ticket must be the same passport you carry to the gate and show on board. There’s no “ticket holder name” separate from your ID — they’re the same thing.
Add your passport as the passenger. Foreign passport holders may need a one-time identity verification — online (upload a photo, 3–5 working days) or at any station counter (about 10 minutes).
Bring the original passport — a photo or copy won’t get you through the gate. Most high-speed stations scan it automatically; older conventional stations check it by hand.
Tickets open 15 days ahead. For normal routes, 3–5 days is plenty. For Spring Festival and National Day, the popular sleepers sell out within minutes — set an alarm.
Pick your channel
12306 vs Trip.com
Both sell the exact same seats. The difference is price, language, and which cards they accept.
If 12306 rejects your foreign card, pay through Alipay or WeChat once they’re set up (see our Alipay guide). A station counter always works too — bring your passport and cash or a QR payment.
The walkthrough
Booking on Trip.com, step by step
Search “China train tickets.” Enter your departure city, arrival city, and date. Tip: pick the station, not just the city — Beijing South and Beijing West are different places.
G = high-speed, D = bullet, C = intercity. Filter by departure time and seat class. The seat map shows what’s left.
Type your name exactly as it appears in your passport. If 12306 hasn’t verified you yet, do it now — online photo upload or at a station window.
Pay with an international card. You’ll get an e-ticket by email — screenshot it and save the train number, date, and station name offline.
The official channel
Booking on 12306 (the official way)
12306 is China Railway’s own site and app — face-value prices, no booking fee. The trade-off is a fiddlier interface and a passport-verification step that can slow foreigners down. Choose it to save the ~¥15–30 per ticket.
Create an account on 12306.cn (there’s an English toggle), then add your passport as the passenger. Foreign passports trigger real-name verification — upload a photo in the app (can take a few business days) or verify at any station ticket window with your passport (~10 minutes).
Enter departure, arrival (pick the station, not just the city), and date. Filter by G / D / C and seat class. The seat map shows what’s left — and you can choose window or aisle on most trains.
12306 takes Alipay, WeChat Pay, and UnionPay. Foreign cards work inconsistently — if yours is rejected, link a Visa/Mastercard inside Alipay first, or pay at a station counter with cash or a QR code.
No paper needed — the ticket is tied to your passport. At the gate, scan the passport you booked with and walk to your platform.
Tip: once your passport is verified, 12306 is the cheapest option and has the widest train choice. Most first-timers start on Trip.com to skip verification, then switch to 12306 once they’re set up.
Arrival day
What actually happens at the station
Arrive 45–60 minutes early. The flow is: security X-ray → passport scan at the gate → walk to your platform (big stations mean a 10–15 minute walk) → find your carriage and seat. Gates close about 15 minutes before departure, so don’t cut it close.
Common questions
Yes. Trip.com takes international Visa and Mastercard. At a station counter, cash always works. The 12306 English site now accepts some foreign cards too, but it’s less consistent.
You can change to another train the same day at the counter (paying any fare difference). Miss the window and the ticket is void — aim to arrive at least 30 minutes early.
No. Your passport is the boarding credential. Keep the e-ticket screenshot as a backup, but you won’t hand over a paper ticket at most high-speed stations.
Yes. Both 12306 and Trip.com allow refunds and train changes before departure, with a small sliding fee that grows closer to the travel date. Changing to another train the same day usually costs only the fare difference.