China ReadyPlan with confidence
☰

Rail booking

China train tickets for foreigners: book, verify and board with a passport

A complete first-trip rail flow covering official channels, passport names, e-tickets and station arrival.

Verified 1 September 2026 Source-linked

Quick answer

Foreign travellers can buy real-name railway tickets with a valid passport through official railway channels and authorised sales routes. Use the same passport details for booking and boarding, then carry the original document to the station.

1

Book correctly

  • Enter the passenger name and passport number exactly as required by the booking channel.
  • Check the city station name—large cities have several stations.
  • Review change and refund terms before paying.
2

Prepare the station step

  • Carry the original passport used for purchase.
  • Allow time for security and any manual passport check.
  • Follow the train number, waiting room and gate shown on displays and announcements.
3

Use the official record

  • The 12306 English site identifies itself as the official China Railway Customer Service Center website.
  • An itinerary sheet or reimbursement receipt is not the boarding credential.
  • Keep the booking record available offline.

Continue planning

Fix passport verificationHandle the most common account issue.Compare 12306 and Trip.comChoose a booking workflow.