Quick answer: 12306 is China Railway’s official ticketing website and app. Foreign travelers can register with a valid foreign passport, buy real-name e-tickets and use the same original passport for ticket checks and boarding. A printed itinerary sheet or reimbursement receipt is not a boarding ticket. Check the exact departure station, passenger name and passport number before paying, then use a staffed lane if an automatic gate does not read the passport.
Last reviewed: October 2, 2026. Railway procedures and ticket availability can change. This guide follows the current China Railway 12306 English pages and links to the official source where a rule needs checking.
What 12306 is and when to use it
12306 is the official China Railway sales channel. It shows the railway’s own inventory and does not add a third-party booking fee. The English website currently accepts valid foreign passports for registration and provides ticket purchase, change and refund services.
Use 12306 when you want the official channel, can enter passport details carefully and are comfortable handling the booking yourself. An English-language travel platform can be easier when you want more customer support or a simpler interface, but its fees, confirmation process, change rules and refund handling may differ. Always read the platform’s current terms instead of assuming its confirmation document is the document used at the station.
Before booking: the five details to prepare
- The original passport you will carry: use the same passport for the booking and the journey.
- Your name exactly as the booking form requires: check spelling, order, spaces and passport number before payment.
- The complete station name: Beijing South and Beijing West are different stations; Shanghai and Shanghai Hongqiao are also different.
- A payment method: test an accepted card or supported mobile payment before a time-sensitive purchase.
- A working email and mobile data: save the order number, train number, departure time and station name offline after booking.
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For the complete transport setup, also read the high-speed rail booking guide, the China train e-ticket guide and the seat class comparison.
While you are preparing: get your China data sorted before the flight too. A China travel eSIM (Airalo) means maps and ticket apps work the moment you land — install it before you fly. Saily is a close budget alternative.
How foreigners register and add passengers
Foreigner registration on 12306: field by field
Most foreign travelers get stuck on the same few details, so here is what each field actually expects before you have to loop back and re-enter it.
- Name: type your name exactly as it appears in your passport, letter-for-letter, in the order the passport shows. Do not add spaces, drop a middle name, or change to a nickname. If the form shows separate family/given fields, match the passport order, not your expectation.
- Passport number: copy it carefully from the passport, including any letters. A single wrong digit or an extra space usually fails the real-name check and can lock you out of booking for the rest of that session.
- Date of birth: use the same date on the passport. Re-enter it even if the form pre-fills, because a mismatched birthday is a common silent cause of a later verification failure.
- Password: use a strong, unique password and follow whatever requirements or prompts the 12306 registration form shows while you type. Store it somewhere safe offline — you need it every time you sign in, and for account recovery if you lose access.
- Verification code / SMS: if you registered with an overseas mobile number and the code does not arrive, keep the page open and wait, or retry on Wi-Fi rather than weak roaming. Some banks and carriers block the overseas SMS gateway.
After you add a passenger, 12306 shows them as verified or ready to be verified. You can usually book once the real-name check clears; if a passenger stays unverified close to your travel date, book that person through a staffed window or a legit booking platform rather than creating a second 12306 account.
The most time-consuming mistake is entering one detail slightly wrong and only noticing at payment. Because fixes need a fresh check, read every field twice before you press submit.
On the official English registration page, foreign travelers register with a valid foreign passport and email address. Enter the passport number, expiry date, date of birth and name carefully. After logging in, add each traveler under the passenger list before searching for a train.
12306 may show a passenger as verified or ready to be verified. Follow the current on-screen instructions if extra identity checks are requested. Do not promise yourself a fixed verification time: the process and prompts can change, and mistakes in the passport number or name can delay a booking. If departure is close, keep another legitimate booking channel available rather than creating multiple inconsistent passenger records.
When China train tickets go on sale
Use the dates currently displayed by 12306 as the live booking window. When a new travel date opens, the first sale time is linked to the departure station, not one universal clock time for the whole country. China Railway provides an official station sale-time checker, and station notices remain the final reference.
For Spring Festival, National Day, Labor Day and other busy periods, prepare the passenger details and preferred trains before the date opens. Add practical alternatives: an earlier or later train, a nearby station, a different seat class or a connection. For ordinary dates, compare several departures instead of treating one train as the only acceptable option.
Popular high-speed routes: time and rough second-class price
| Route | Travelling time | Rough second-class price |
|---|---|---|
| Beijing South – Shanghai Hongqiao | 4.5 – 5.5 hours | ¥553 – ¥662 |
| Beijing West – Xi’an North | 4 – 4.5 hours | ¥515 – ¥600 |
| Shanghai Hongqiao – Hangzhou East | 45 – 60 minutes | ¥73 – ¥90 |
| Guangzhou South – Shenzhen North | 30 – 40 minutes | ¥75 – ¥100 |
| Chengdu East – Chongqing West | 1 – 1.5 hours | ¥112 – ¥150 |
| Xi’an North – Luoyang Longmen | 1.5 – 2 hours | ¥175 – ¥230 |
Prices are typical reference bands for standard (second-class) seats and change with the train, travel date and fare dynamic. Confirm the exact two second-class fares on 12306 for your date; the travel time shown is the fastest through-service, not all departures.
How to search without choosing the wrong station
Search by the exact station printed in your itinerary, not only the city. Copy the Chinese station name into Amap / Gaode Maps and check the travel time from your hotel before buying. A cheaper train is not useful if it leaves from a distant station before the metro starts.
- Beijing: Beijing, Beijing South, Beijing West and Beijing North serve different routes.
- Shanghai: Shanghai Hongqiao is not Shanghai Railway Station or Shanghai South.
- Chengdu: Chengdu East, Chengdu South and Chengdu West are separate transport hubs.
- Guangzhou: Guangzhou South, Guangzhou East and Guangzhou Railway Station require different metro plans.
Check schedules, fares, seat availability and train status on 12306
The 12306 app and website show the same live journey information a Chinese traveler sees: departure and arrival times (the train schedule), fares by seat class, remaining seats, and real-time train status. You do not need a separate website or a Chinese phone number to read these once your account is set up.
- Train schedule: search a route and 12306 lists every departure with its exact departure and arrival time, travel duration and train number. The first listing is not always the fastest.
- Train fare: each train shows second-class, first-class and business-class prices. Fares vary by train, seat class and travel date; confirm the fare shown for your exact service on 12306.
- Seat availability: trains show remaining seats when you open the booking step. Popular departures on peak travel dates can sell out, so check other departure times, nearby stations and different seat classes as a backup.
- Platform number: the platform (站台) usually appears only in the hours before departure, on the booking screen, the station departure board and sometimes in a text message. Arrive with time to find it.
- Train running status: in the 12306 app, the “train status” (正晚点) query shows whether your train is on time, delayed or cancelled. Check it before leaving for the station on stormy days.
E-tickets, passports and paper documents
For a railway e-ticket, the passport information used in the booking is linked to the journey. Bring the same original passport and present it for station entry, ticket check, boarding and exit when requested. Some automatic gates can process supported passports; when a gate does not read yours, use the staffed manual lane and show the booking details.
The official 12306 English FAQ states that an itinerary sheet and a reimbursement receipt cannot be used as tickets. They are optional records for itinerary or accounting purposes. Do not join a ticket-counter queue merely because you believe every foreign traveler must exchange an online booking for a paper ticket. Check the order status and carry the original passport instead.
What to do at the station
- Arrive with time to spare. For a first trip from a large station, 45-60 minutes is a sensible planning margin, not a universal railway rule.
- Enter the correct station. Compare the Chinese characters on the booking with the station sign and map pin.
- Pass security. Keep the passport and booking details accessible while bags are screened.
- Find the train number and check-in gate. Follow the train number, such as G, D, C, Z, T or K plus digits, rather than relying only on the destination.
- Use the passport gate or staffed lane. If the automatic reader fails, move to the manual channel instead of repeatedly scanning.
- Confirm carriage and seat. Platform screens and carriage markers show where to wait.
Save the train number and destination station as a screenshot. If you need mobile data for maps or translation, install it before the travel day; the China eSIM comparison explains the options.
Seat classes in plain English
High-speed G and many D trains commonly offer second class, first class and sometimes business class. Second class is the normal value choice for most travelers. First class gives a wider 2+2 layout on many trains, while business class is much more expensive and varies by train set. Conventional trains may offer hard seat, hard sleeper and soft sleeper. Check the actual train because layouts and available classes are not identical on every service.
For photos, berth differences and who should pay more, use the dedicated China train seat classes guide. For bags, read the China train luggage guide before carrying a large suitcase.
Luggage and onboard basics
The current official English FAQ lists a 20 kg free cabin-luggage allowance for most adult passengers. It also gives a maximum combined dimension of 130 cm per item on EMU trains and 160 cm on conventional trains. Conditions and enforcement can vary, so check the current railway notice when carrying unusually large equipment.
Small bags usually go on the overhead rack; large suitcases use racks near carriage ends or designated spaces. Keep valuables and the passport with you. Food and drinks are sold on many trains, but bringing water and a simple meal is easier on long journeys. Smoking is prohibited throughout high-speed EMU trains.
Changes, refunds and missed trains
Handle a change or refund through the same channel used to buy the ticket. The official English site supports ticket changes and refunds, but deadlines, available alternatives and fees depend on timing and the ticket status. Read the live rule shown before confirming. A third-party platform may add its own service process, so do not apply a 12306 fee table automatically to another seller.
If you miss a train, go directly to a staffed railway service or ticket counter with the passport and order details. Do not buy a second ticket until staff or the booking platform confirms what can still be changed.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Booking the right city but the wrong station.
- Entering a nickname or shortened name instead of the required passport details.
- Assuming every station releases new tickets at 8:00 Beijing time.
- Believing a printed itinerary sheet is required for boarding.
- Assuming every automatic gate will accept, or reject, every foreign passport.
- Planning a tight transfer without allowing for security and a large station layout.
- Giving up on an app when passport identity verification fails. The usual silent causes are a name or date of birth that does not match the passport exactly, or an ID type selected wrong for a foreign passport. Re-check the spelling and birthday, save the matching details, and keep a staffed counter as the backup if verification cannot clear before your trip.
- Waiting until a few days before travel for passenger verification to complete. Real-name verification can take several working days, so add passengers early; if it is still pending close to departure, book that person through a staffed window or a legitimate English booking platform instead.
- Following an old screenshot instead of the live 12306 order status.
12306 FAQ for foreign travelers
Can foreigners register for 12306?
Yes. The official 12306 English registration page currently accepts valid foreign passports. Enter the passport information and traveler name carefully and follow any identity-verification prompt shown in the account.
Is my passport my China train ticket?
For a railway e-ticket, use the same original passport entered during booking for station and train checks. If an automatic gate does not read it, use the staffed lane and show the order information.
Do foreigners need to collect a paper train ticket?
Not for a normal e-ticket simply because the passenger is foreign. The official itinerary sheet and reimbursement receipt are not boarding tickets. Carry the original passport and check the live order status.
What time do 12306 tickets go on sale?
The first sale time varies by departure station. Use the official 12306 station sale-time checker and the date currently available in the booking system rather than relying on a universal 8:00 time.
What if the passport does not scan at the gate?
Move to the staffed manual lane and present the original passport plus the train and order details. Leave extra time at unfamiliar or very large stations.
Station guides for major train hubs
- Beijing South Railway Station guide
- Shanghai Railway Station guide
- Wuhan Train Station Guide for Foreign Visitors: Choose the Right Station
See the network first in our China high-speed train map and route guide, then use 12306 for live schedules.
Official booking or English-language booking platform?
Use 12306 when you want the official inventory and can manage its passenger setup. If you prefer an English booking flow, compare China train booking options on Klook, then check service fees, refund handling, and the exact station before paying.
Affiliate note: A qualifying Klook booking may generate a commission for this 12306 guide without adding a separate charge from Discover Real China.
South China travelers can use the dedicated Shenzhen North Station passport and transfer guide.
Traveling between the two major history stops? Use the Beijing West to Xi’an North train guide for station names, passport boarding and arrival transport.
Official references and related guides
- China Railway 12306 English ticketing FAQ
- Official 12306 English registration page
- Official station ticket sale-time checker
- Beijing to Shanghai train guide
- Shanghai Hongqiao station guide
- Beijing West station guide
- Guangzhou South station guide
- Hong Kong to Shanghai by Train: Options, Booking and Documents