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Book China's High-Speed Rail

The official 12306 app and website handle all Chinese train tickets — high-speed rail, overnight sleepers, and regional lines. This guide covers registration, passport verification, booking, and picking up your tickets.

⏱️ 12 min read 📱 iOS & Android 🆓 Free guide 🔄 Updated July 2026

What You'll Learn

China's high-speed rail network (高铁) is one of the best in the world — fast, punctual, and covers almost every city. 12306.cn is the only official ticketing platform. Here's how to use it as a foreigner:

  • Download the official 12306 app (手机客户端)
  • Register an account and verify your passport
  • Search and book train tickets
  • Pay with a foreign credit card
  • Collect or use your e-ticket at the station
0

Understanding Chinese Train Types

Before booking, know what you're looking for:

Type Speed Price Range Best For
G / D trains (高铁/动车) 250–350 km/h ¥150–1,000+ Long-distance, intercity
C trains (城际) 200–250 km/h ¥50–300 Short regional routes (e.g. Beijing–Tianjin)
Z / T / K trains 80–160 km/h ¥60–500 Overnight routes, budget
💡 Which to Book

G trains (高铁) are the iconic high-speed rail — book these for Beijing–Shanghai, Beijing–Xi'an, Shanghai–Hangzhou, and similar popular routes. D trains are slightly slower and cheaper. For overnight routes between distant cities, Z/T/K sleepers are the budget option.

1

Download & Register Your Account

Download the App

The official app is called 12306 (铁路12306). Download it from:

  • iOS: App Store → search "12306"
  • Android: Google Play or download from 12306.cn

You can also use the website www.12306.cn directly from your browser — the English version is available at english.12306.cn.

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Screenshot: 12306 app home screen

Register an Account

  1. Open the app → tap Sign Up / 注册
  2. Select Passport (护照) as your ID type
  3. Enter your full name as it appears on your passport
  4. Enter your passport number
  5. Enter your date of birth
  6. Set your login email and password
  7. Enter your international phone number (with country code, e.g. +1, +44)
  8. Verify your phone with the SMS code
⚠️ Name Format

Enter your name exactly as it appears on your passport — in the same field, same order. If your passport has a Chinese name translation, use that. The name on your ticket must match your passport exactly, or you'll be refused entry at the gate.

Complete Passport Verification

This step is required before you can book tickets:

  1. Go to My → Passenger Information / 乘车人
  2. Tap Add Passenger / 添加乘客人
  3. Fill in your details:
    • Name (as on passport)
    • Passport number
    • Country (select from dropdown)
    • Date of birth
  4. Upload a photo of your passport data page
  5. Some users may be asked to do a video verification — follow the in-app instructions
  6. Wait for approval (usually within 24 hours)
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Screenshot: 12306 passenger information screen with passport fields

💡 Alternative: Book Via Travel Agent

If passport verification is too complicated or takes too long, use a travel agent (e.g. through your hotel, Ctrip, or the official ticket counters at railway stations). They'll handle the registration for a small fee. This is often faster for first-time users.

2

Search & Book a Ticket

Search for Trains

  1. Open the app → tap Ticket / 车票
  2. Enter your departure city (e.g. Beijing / 北京)
  3. Enter your arrival city (e.g. Shanghai / 上海)
  4. Select your travel date
  5. Tap Search / 查询
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Screenshot: 12306 ticket search screen with departure/destination fields

Understanding the Results

Results show all trains for your route. Each row shows:

  • Train number — e.g. G1, D712, Z22
  • Departure / arrival time
  • Duration
  • Seat classes with prices — click to expand:
    • Business (商务座) — most expensive, lie-flat seats
    • First Class (一等座) — wider seats, more legroom
    • Second Class (二等座) — standard high-speed seats, still comfortable
    • Hard Sleeper (硬卧) — overnight train bunk, 6 berths per compartment
    • Soft Sleeper (软卧) — nicer overnight berth, 4 per compartment
💡 Which Seat Class?

For high-speed routes under 4 hours, Second Class (二等座) is perfectly comfortable. For longer routes (Beijing–Xi'an 4.5h, Beijing–Shanghai 4.5h), consider First Class (一等座) for the extra space. Overnight trains: Soft Sleeper (软卧) is worth the upgrade for a good night's sleep.

Book Your Ticket

  1. Tap the train you want
  2. Select your seat class
  3. A seat map may appear — available seats are highlighted
  4. Tap to select your seat (window 🪟, aisle 🚶, middle)
  5. Select your verified passenger (you added this in Step 1)
  6. Review the details — name, train, seat, price
  7. Tap Submit / 提交
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Screenshot: 12306 seat selection screen showing available Second Class seats

3

Pay for Your Ticket

Supported Payment Methods

After submitting your booking, you'll see the payment screen. Foreigners can pay with:

  • Visa — accepted on 12306 (some cards may decline — try enabling international transactions with your bank first)
  • Mastercard — generally more reliable than Visa on 12306
  • UnionPay — works if you have a Chinese bank card (most foreigners don't)
  • WeChat Pay / Alipay — if you've linked a foreign card to these
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Screenshot: 12306 payment screen showing card options

⚠️ Card Declined?

If your Visa or Mastercard is declined on 12306, this is common. Try: (1) Enable international transactions in your banking app, (2) Try a different card, (3) Use WeChat Pay or Alipay with a linked foreign card, (4) Ask your hotel concierge to help you pay at a ticket office — they often have a workaround.

Booking Windows

Popular routes sell out fast. General rules:

  • High-speed trains (G/D): Tickets open for booking 15 days before departure
  • Overnight Z/T/K trains: Tickets open 15 days in advance
  • Golden Week / Chinese New Year: Book as early as possible — these sell out within hours
  • Best practice: Set an alarm and book at exactly 6:00 AM (Beijing time) when tickets release
💡 Refund and Change Policy

Tickets can be refunded or changed before departure:
• >48h before: full refund minus ¥20 fee
• 24–48h before: 90% refund
• <24h before: 80% refund
Changes to different trains: fees vary by timing. Check the app or website for exact rules.

4

Collect Your Ticket

Option 1: QR Code (Best for Foreigners)

12306 now supports Real-Name E-Tickets — you can board using just your passport and a QR code, no physical ticket needed:

  1. After booking, go to My Orders / 我的订单
  2. Find your ticket → tap View QR Code / 查看二维码
  3. At the station, go to the ID Check gate (刷身份证/护照进站) — not the regular ticket gate
  4. Scan your passport at the gate reader
  5. Show your QR code to the staff if asked
  6. Proceed to the platform and board your train
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Screenshot: 12306 app showing e-ticket QR code

Option 2: Collect Physical Ticket

If you prefer a physical ticket or your QR scan doesn't work:

  1. Go to any Ticket Window (售票窗口) at the station
  2. Show your passport and booking confirmation number (or booking number)
  3. The staff will print your physical ticket
  4. Keep your passport and ticket ready for the gate check
💡 Early Arrival

For high-speed trains, arrive at the station at least 30 minutes before departure. Stations are large and your platform may be a 10-minute walk from the entrance. For overnight trains, 20 minutes is usually enough.

5

At the Station & On the Train

Station Procedure

  1. Enter the station — show your passport or ticket at the main entrance
  2. Security check — bags go through X-ray, you walk through a metal detector
  3. Find your platform — screens in the station show your train and platform (站台)
  4. Wait at the platform — your coach/car number is marked on the floor
  5. Board — show your passport or ticket to the attendant at the platform door
⚠️ Platform Language

Station announcements are in Mandarin. Look at the digital signs — they show your train number, platform, and departure time. Don't board the wrong train: check your train number (e.g. G7) against your ticket before boarding.

On the Train

  • Find your seat — car/coach number is above the door, seat number is above your seat
  • Luggage — large bags go in the overhead racks or at the end of the carriage; smaller bags under your seat
  • No smoking — strictly enforced throughout the train and station
  • Food — the dining car serves meals; you can also bring your own food and drinks
  • WiFi — high-speed trains have free WiFi (connect to "CR-WiFi"), though it's slow
  • Toilets — at the ends of each carriage, both Western and Asian style
✅ Key Mandarin Phrases

站台 (zhàntái) = Platform
检票 (jiǎnpiào) = Ticket check
出口 (chūkǒu) = Exit
我的座位在这 (wǒ de zuòwèi zài zhè) = My seat is here
请问...在哪里？(qǐngwèn...zài nǎlǐ?) = Where is...?

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