12306 for Foreigners: Book China Train Tickets (2026)
12306 is the official ticketing platform for China Railway and the only authoritative channel for high-speed, bullet, and conventional train tickets.
Basics
- Website: https://www.12306.cn (English version available)
- Hotline: 12306 (English support available)
- App: App Store / Google Play; English UI
- Booking window: Tickets go on sale 15 days before departure. Book as soon as the window opens for popular routes and holiday periods — popular G-train seats sell out quickly.
Can foreigners use 12306?
- Registration requires a phone number (foreign numbers accepted) and a passport number.
- Tickets must be booked under your real passport details.
- E-tickets: scan the QR code at the turnstile — carry your original passport as the gate may require it for verification.
- Counter pickup: passport required.
How do I pay on 12306?
- Alipay, WeChat Pay (recommended for foreign visitors — reliably accepted)
- UnionPay debit / credit
- Visa / Mastercard at the counter (acceptance varies; use Alipay/WeChat Pay as primary)
- RMB cash (counter only)
What seat classes and train types does 12306 offer?
| Code | Type | Key seat classes |
|---|---|---|
| G | High-speed (350 km/h) | Second class, First class, Business |
| D | Bullet / intercity (250 km/h) | Second class, First class |
| Z/T/K | Conventional overnight | Seat, Hard sleeper (6-berth), Soft sleeper (4-berth) |
What are 12306’s refund and change rules?
Reissue (换乘): allowed before departure via app / website / counter; normally one reissue per ticket.
Refund fees (per the 12306 official refund policy, as of June 2026):
| Time before departure | Refund fee |
|---|---|
| More than 8 days | 0% (full refund) |
| 48 hours – 8 days | 5% |
| 24 – 48 hours | 10% |
| Less than 24 hours | 20% |
Refunds can be processed online up until roughly 30 minutes before the train’s scheduled departure (at a station counter, before departure); after departure tickets are generally non-refundable. Confirm the exact online cut-off at 12306.cn. These percentages apply to all train types; special cases can differ (e.g. Spring Festival peak-season rules). Note: for travel dates from Feb 2, 2026, 12306 also offers one free wrong-ticket refund per calendar day for an accidental purchase if requested within 30 minutes of payment and at least 4 hours before departure.
What are the alternatives to 12306 for foreigners?
Trip.com and Klook offer English-language 12306 booking with customer support — useful if 12306’s registration or payment step proves problematic. Both charge a service fee on top of the face-value ticket price. Book directly on 12306 to avoid this markup; the 12306 app and website have English support and are the recommended path for most visitors. (Source: Reddit r/travelchina, 2026-05-08)
Practical Tips for Foreigners
- Passport format rejection: 12306 sometimes rejects foreign passport numbers during registration or booking. Common fix: ensure you enter the passport number exactly as printed (no spaces, all caps). If it still fails after multiple attempts, use Trip.com instead (~¥50 service fee per ticket, same train inventory, full English support, foreign cards accepted).
- Seat selection limitation: The English version of the 12306 app assigns seats randomly. Seat selection (window/aisle preference) is only available in the Chinese-language version. Trip.com allows seat preference indication.
- Morning trains are often cheaper than afternoon departures on the same route — book early slots to save money.
- Choosing the right station: Major cities have multiple rail stations (e.g., Beijing has Beijing West, Beijing South, Beijing North). Stations can be 30–60 minutes apart — always confirm which station your train departs from and plan transit time accordingly.
- On-board amenities: Free hot water dispensers on all trains (bring your own cup or buy one at the station). Snacks and meals are allowed on board. Dining cars available on most G/D trains. Snack carts pass through regularly.
- Power banks on trains: No CCC certification required (unlike domestic flights). Allowed as long as capacity is under 100 Wh (27,000 mAh) with clear labeling.
- G vs D trains: G trains (高铁) run at 300+ km/h and serve major city pairs. D trains (动车) are slightly slower (~250 km/h) but still fast and comfortable, often with more departure times available.
- Phone charging: Power outlets available at seats on most G/D trains (check near the floor or under the armrest).
Service Highlights
- Nationwide station coverage with real-time seat availability
- E-tickets (QR scan at gate) and paper tickets supported
- Major stations (Grade 1 / 2 hub stations) offer staffed baggage storage and lost-and-found
- English announcements and signage at major hubs
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can foreigners use 12306 with a passport?
- Yes. Foreigners can register on 12306 — the official China Railway ticketing platform — with a passport number and a phone number, and foreign mobile numbers are accepted. Both the app and the website have an English interface, and tickets must be booked under your real passport details. One known snag: 12306 sometimes rejects foreign passport numbers during registration or booking. The common fix is to enter the number exactly as printed in your passport — no spaces, all capital letters. If it still fails after multiple attempts, Trip.com sells the same train inventory with full English support and foreign-card payment for a service fee of roughly ¥50 per ticket. Once registered, book early: tickets go on sale 15 days before departure, and popular G-train seats sell out quickly.
- Should I book trains on 12306 or Trip.com?
- Book directly on 12306 if you can: it is the official platform, so there is no markup, and the app and website both have English support — the recommended path for most visitors. Trip.com and Klook offer English-language 12306 booking with customer support, but both charge a service fee on top of the face-value ticket price — about ¥50 per ticket on Trip.com, which sells the same train inventory. Switch to Trip.com if 12306's registration or payment step proves problematic — the platform sometimes rejects foreign passport numbers, and Visa/Mastercard is only taken at the counter with varying acceptance, whereas Trip.com accepts foreign cards directly. Trip.com also lets you indicate a seat preference, while the English version of the 12306 app assigns seats randomly. Whichever channel you choose, tickets go on sale 15 days before departure.
- How do I collect and use my train ticket?
- Usually there is nothing to collect: 12306 supports e-tickets alongside paper tickets. With an e-ticket, you scan the QR code at the turnstile to enter — carry your original passport, as the gate may require it for verification, and tickets are booked under your real passport details. If you want a paper ticket instead, counter pickup is supported and also requires your passport. The bigger practical pitfall is the station itself: major cities have multiple rail stations (Beijing has Beijing West, Beijing South, and Beijing North) that can be 30–60 minutes apart, so always confirm which station your train departs from and plan transit time accordingly.
- Can I change or refund a 12306 ticket?
- Yes. A reissue (change) is allowed before departure via the app, website, or a station counter — normally one reissue per ticket. Refund fees scale with how close you are to departure: free more than 8 days out, 5% from 48 hours to 8 days, 10% from 24–48 hours, and 20% under 24 hours. Online refunds can be processed until roughly 30 minutes before scheduled departure (at a station counter, before departure); after departure, tickets are generally non-refundable. Special cases can differ — Spring Festival peak-season rules, for example. For travel dates from February 2, 2026, 12306 also offers one free wrong-ticket refund per calendar day for an accidental purchase, if requested within 30 minutes of payment and at least 4 hours before departure. Confirm the exact online cut-off at 12306.cn.
Sources & verification
Last verified: Jun 9, 2026 by ChinaGuide Editorial Team
This guide was checked against the following sources:
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