China Transit Guide

How to Book China High-Speed Train Tickets as a Foreigner (12306 Guide)

Published 2026-10-06 · Updated 2026-10-06

How to Book China High-Speed Train Tickets as a Foreigner

China's high-speed rail network is one of the easiest ways to travel between cities: fast, frequent and usually central at both ends. As a foreign visitor you can book tickets yourself on the official China Railway 12306 website or app, using your passport. This guide walks through the process and the rules that matter, based on 12306's own English FAQ.

Rules and fees below are from the official 12306 English FAQ, checked on 6 October 2026. Always check the current terms on 12306 before you book.

Where to book

  • Official site (English): www.12306.cn/en
  • Official app: China Railway 12306 (the official app, from your app store)
  • At the station: ticket counters

Third-party travel sites also sell train tickets, usually with a service fee. This guide covers the official channel.

Step 1: Create an account and verify your passport

Tickets in China are real-name: each ticket is tied to the traveller's ID. On the English site, the only accepted ID is a valid foreign passport (12306 FAQ).

A 2026 guide from China's Ministry of Commerce, quoted on the Hunan provincial government site, describes three ways to verify a passport-holder's identity: automatic online verification, uploading a photo of your passport, or verifying in person at a station ticket counter (Hunan government, Jun 2026).

Tip: enter your name exactly as printed in your passport, and add each traveller in your group as a passenger before booking.

Step 2: Search and choose

Search by departure city, arrival city and date. Results show train numbers, times, journey length and seat classes with prices. High-speed trains usually start with G or D.

Some practical points:

  • Opening hours: ticket sales and changes are available from 5:00 to 1:00 (to 23:30 on Tuesdays). Searches and refunds are available 24 hours (12306 FAQ).
  • One ticket per ID per train per date. You can't buy two tickets on the same train and date with the same passport (12306 FAQ).
  • Popular routes sell out at holidays, so book early if your dates are fixed.

Check which station

Big cities often have several railway stations. Beijing, for example, has Beijing, Beijing South, Beijing West and others, and Shanghai has Shanghai and Shanghai Hongqiao. Check the station name on your booking carefully and allow time to get there. Stations can be far apart, and arriving at the wrong one is a common visitor mistake.

Seat classes

High-speed trains usually offer second class, first class and, on many trains, business class. Second class is comfortable for most journeys and the cheapest. The seat class and prices for each train are shown in the search results.

Step 3: Pay

You can pay online with Chinese or foreign bank cards, or with mobile payment apps. At stations you can pay by card, RMB cash or mobile payment (Hunan government, citing MOFCOM). See our guide to paying in China with Alipay or WeChat Pay.

After paying, you'll get a booking confirmation. There's no need to print a ticket. Your passport is your ticket.

Step 4: At the station

  • Bring the passport you booked with. You show it at the station entrance and at the gates (12306 FAQ).
  • Gates: you can go through automatic or manual gates using your original passport (Hunan government, citing MOFCOM). If an automatic gate doesn't read your passport, use the staffed lane.
  • Itinerary sheets aren't tickets. A printed travel itinerary or reimbursement receipt is not a ticket (12306 FAQ).
  • Arrive early. Large stations have security checks and long walks to platforms.

Children's tickets

According to 12306 (FAQ):

  • Children aged 6 to 14 need a child ticket, priced at 50% of the seat fare.
  • Each paying adult may bring one child under 6 free of charge, without a seat. If you want a seat for that child, buy a child ticket.

Refunds and changes

The 12306 FAQ sets out refund fees based on how long before departure you refund (FAQ):

When you refund Fee
8 days or more before departure Free
More than 48 hours (and less than 8 days) before 5%
24–48 hours before 10%
Less than 24 hours before 20%

The minimum fee is RMB 2. There's also a free refund if you cancel within 30 minutes of purchase and at least 4 hours before departure (once per day, for journeys from 2 February 2026) (FAQ).

You can change a ticket once (a different train, date or seat), subject to the FAQ's rules (FAQ).

Luggage

  • Adults may carry 20 kg of luggage free (12306 FAQ).
  • On high-speed (EMU) trains, each item's length, width and height must add up to no more than 130 cm (FAQ).
  • Smoking is banned on high-speed (EMU) trains (FAQ).

Large suitcases fit in racks at the end of each carriage or overhead, but space can be tight on busy trains.

Visa-free visitors and train travel

If you're in China on 240-hour visa-free transit, you can travel by train only within the permitted areas. Before booking a trip to another city, check that it's inside the permitted area for your entry. Our transit checker lists those areas. Check official sources before travel: the NIA policy page lists the permitted areas.

Quick checklist

  • 12306 account created, passport verified
  • Passenger names exactly as in passports
  • Payment method linked (foreign card or mobile wallet)
  • Original passport with you on the day
  • Destination inside your permitted area (if on visa-free transit)
  • Arrive early for security checks

Sources

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