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How to buy train tickets in China with a passport

High-speed trains link every city on this site, and foreigners can book them online with just a passport. Use China Railway's own 12306 service: it is in English, and the ticket is tied to your passport, so there is nothing to print.

1. Use the official 12306 site or app

  • Book on 12306.cn/en or in the “12306 China Railway” app, which also has an English version.
  • 12306 is the railway's own service. The railway does not handle problems with tickets bought on unofficial sites.

Checked 2026-10-11

2. Register and verify your passport

  1. Create an account, then add yourself as a passenger with your name, nationality and passport number. Only foreign passports are accepted on the English version.
  2. Type your name exactly as it is in your passport.
  3. Your passport is checked automatically. If it isn't, upload a photo of the passport's photo page for a manual check, or show the passport at any station ticket office.
  4. Add travel companions under My Passengers; each one needs their own passport verified.

Checked 2026-10-11

3. Book your train

  • Tickets go on sale 15 days before departure, counting the day of travel.
  • Booking runs from 5:00 to 1:00 the next morning (to 23:30 on Tuesdays), Beijing time.
  • One passport can hold only one ticket for the same train on the same day.

Checked 2026-10-11

4. Pay

  • Online you can pay with Alipay, WeChat Pay or a UnionPay card; see how to pay in China.
  • Whether Visa or Mastercard work directly on 12306: not tested. Paying through Alipay or WeChat with your linked card is the safer bet.
  • Station ticket offices also take cash.

Checked 2026-10-11

5. At the station

  • Your ticket is electronic: no paper ticket is needed. Bring the original passport you booked with.
  • Most foreign passports don't open the self-service gates, so use the staffed lane for the ticket and ID check.
  • Self-service ticket machines accept the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card, not passports.
  • The itinerary sheet you can print from 12306 is a receipt, not a ticket.

Checked 2026-10-11

6. Changing a ticket

  • You can change the date, train or seat once on 12306 if seats are available.
  • Changes are free more than 48 hours before departure; closer to departure, a fee of 5–40% of the fare may apply.

Checked 2026-10-11