How to Book China Train Tickets as a Foreigner (12306 Guide)
Booking high-speed rail with a foreign passport on the official 12306 app or website — registration, timing, payment and getting through the gates.
- Official platform
- 12306 app / 12306.cn (English available)
- Sale window
- Typically 15 days before departure
- ID
- Your passport — tickets are real-name
- Fallback
- Licensed resellers such as Trip.com (service fee)
Register with your passport
Create an account on the 12306 app or English website using your passport. Verification can happen online automatically, by uploading a passport photo (and sometimes a selfie with your passport) for manual review, or in person at a station ticket office. Allow a day or two for manual checks.
Enter your name exactly as it appears in the machine-readable zone of your passport.
When to book
Tickets typically go on sale 15 days before departure. For Golden Week (1–7 October), the Spring Festival period and summer weekends, popular routes sell out within minutes — book the moment sales open, or use the waitlist (候补) function.
Paying
Payment options for foreign users change from time to time; at various points foreign Visa and Mastercard cards, Alipay and WeChat Pay have been accepted. If your card is declined, a licensed reseller is the most reliable fallback.
At the station
Arrive 30–45 minutes early for security. Many stations now have gates that accept foreign passports; otherwise use the staffed lane. There is no paper ticket — your passport is your ticket. Check which station your train uses: big cities have several (Beijing South, Beijing West, Shanghai Hongqiao, etc.).
Before you go
- Passport for every traveller.
- Booking confirmation (screenshot) with train number and coach/seat.
- Arrive 30–45 minutes early; allow more on holidays.
FAQ
Can I book Chinese trains without a Chinese phone number?
12306 accepts international registration for passport holders, but verification steps change. Resellers do not need a Chinese number.
What is the difference between G, D and K trains?
G trains are the fastest high-speed services (up to 350 km/h), D trains are slightly slower high-speed or sleeper services, and K/T/Z trains are conventional trains, often with sleeper berths.
Related briefings
Sources
Rules change often. If something here no longer matches the official source, the official source wins — and please tell us at [email protected].
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