Short answer
Book on 12306 — the official railway platform — either at 12306.cn/en or in the 12306 mobile app. Both have an English interface, and both let a foreign passport register, log in, buy a one-way ticket, and change or refund it. No Chinese ID or Chinese bank account is needed; you pay with Alipay or WeChat Pay.
Your passport is your ticket. There is nothing to print and nothing to collect — you scan the passport itself at the station gate. Most large stations support foreign passports at the automated gates, but allow extra time because a staffed lane is sometimes the faster route.
If the train you want is sold out, submit a waitlist (候补) request. It is free, it fills automatically from other passengers' cancellations, and you only pay if a seat is found.
Which trains to look for
Chinese train numbers start with a letter, and that letter tells you almost everything about the journey. For anything long-distance, you want a G or a D.
| Prefix | What it is | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| G | High-speed (高铁) — the fastest trains on the network | Long trips between major cities; the default choice |
| D | Bullet train (动车) — high-speed stock, usually a little slower and cheaper than G | The G is sold out, or the D is the same trip for less money |
| C | Intercity (城际) — short hops between neighbouring cities | Day trips, airport links, commuter corridors |
| Z / T / K | Conventional trains, often overnight, with sleepers | You want a bed and a night of travel, or the route has no high-speed line |
Seat classes are simple. Second class is the standard fare and where most people sit. First class is a wider seat in a smaller cabin; business class is the expensive one. Second class is the right answer unless you want the upgrade.
Registering on 12306 with a foreign passport
The 12306 English site and app both accept foreign passports. The catch is not the passport — it is that the name you enter has to match the document exactly.
- Install the 12306 app or open 12306.cn/en before you travelApp store availability and network conditions are both easier to deal with from home. Do it before you fly.
- Register with the name printed in your passportUse the Latin spelling exactly as it appears in the machine-readable zone. Add a middle name if the passport has one, or leave it out, but be consistent.
- Add yourself as a passengerBuying a ticket needs a passenger profile, not just an account. Enter your passport number and expiry here.
- Let verification completePassport verification is usually quick, but it is the step that blocks booking when it fails. Fix it days before your travel date, not at the station.
- Add Alipay or WeChat Pay12306 does not take foreign credit cards directly. Payment runs through one of the two Chinese wallets, both of which accept foreign cards.
When should you book?
Tickets are released on a rolling basis ahead of the travel date, and the release window is measured in weeks, not months. Popular corridors, Beijing–Shanghai, Beijing–Xi'an and anything feeding a holiday period, can sell out well before departure, and the days around Chinese New Year and the October holiday are the worst of all.
- Book as soon as your dates are fixed. Waiting gains you nothing.
- Check the app for the exact release date of the specific journey you want. Release windows are set by the railway and do change.
- Have a second and third train in mind. A different departure an hour earlier or later is often the difference between a seat and a waitlist.
The waitlist: what to do when your train is sold out
This is the single most useful feature on 12306 and most first-time visitors never use it. When a train shows as sold out, you can submit a waitlist request instead of giving up.
- It costs nothing to join. You are not charged unless a seat is actually secured for you.
- Seats come from cancellations and refunds. Chinese passengers routinely rebook, which is why waitlists convert at a useful rate.
- You can submit several requests across different trains and seat classes, which raises your odds considerably.
- You get notified in the app when a seat is confirmed, and payment is taken then.
Changing and refunding tickets
12306 supports both changes (改签) and refunds (退票) from inside the app, and both are done against the same booking. A change moves you to a different train on the same route, subject to availability and any fare difference. A refund returns the ticket, and depending on how close to departure you are, a fee applies.
The rule of thumb: the earlier you act, the less it costs. If your plans are wobbling, deal with it the day before rather than at the station.
At the station: how the passport works
There is no ticket to collect and no barcode to show. Your passport is the ticket, from the moment you enter the station to the moment you sit down.
- Security screening on entryBags go through an X-ray and you walk through a metal detector. This is routine at every station and applies to everyone.
- Ticket and ID checkYou scan or present your passport. Large stations have gates that read foreign passports; smaller ones or failed scans route you to a staffed lane.
- Wait in the departure hallFind your train on the board, note the gate number, and sit near it. The hall is large and the walk to a distant platform can take ten minutes.
- Board when the gate opensThe gate opens for a window before departure and closes before the train leaves. Do not treat the departure time as the boarding time.
- Scan again at the platform gateSome stations require a second passport scan at the platform entrance before you go down to the train.
Luggage and on-board basics
- There is no formal check-in for bags. You carry everything on and use the racks above the seats or at the end of each carriage.
- Large suitcases fit on high-speed trains, but board early if the carriage is full, rack space is first come, first served.
- Bring your passport with you at all times. It is your identity document for the whole journey, not just the gate.
- Food and drink are sold on board and by vendors at stations, but bringing your own is cheaper.
- Arrival stations are often enormous. If you are connecting to a metro or another train, add time, transfers inside the big hubs are not quick.
12306 or a third-party booking site?
Third-party platforms sell the same tickets with a friendlier English interface, better support and a booking fee on top. That convenience is real, but the official app has caught up, and buying direct means no markup and no middleman if something goes wrong with the booking.
| 12306 (official) | Third-party sites | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Face value | Face value plus a booking fee |
| English support | Yes, on site and app | Yes, usually smoother |
| Waitlist | Full access, free | Varies; sometimes handled on your behalf |
| Changes and refunds | Direct in the app | Through the platform |
| Payment | Alipay / WeChat Pay | Often accepts foreign cards directly |
If your card cannot be bound to Alipay or WeChat Pay, a third-party site that takes foreign cards is a reasonable fallback.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy train tickets in China with a foreign passport?
Yes. 12306's English site and app both allow foreign passports to register, buy one-way tickets, change them and refund them. You need the passport itself at the station; no Chinese ID is required.
Do I need a Chinese bank account to book on 12306?
No. Payment is made through Alipay or WeChat Pay, both of which accept foreign-issued Visa and Mastercard after passport verification. There is no direct foreign-card option on 12306 itself.
Do I need to print a ticket?
No. Your passport is your ticket. You scan it at the station entrance, the departure gate and sometimes again at the platform gate. Nothing needs collecting or printing.
What if my train is sold out?
Submit a waitlist request. It is free, it fills automatically from cancellations and refunds, and you are only charged if a seat is confirmed. Submitting several requests across different trains and seat classes improves your odds.
How far in advance should I book?
As soon as your dates are settled. Tickets are released on a rolling basis weeks ahead, and popular routes sell out during holiday periods. Check the app for the release date of your specific journey.
What is the difference between G, D and C trains?
G trains are the fastest high-speed services, D trains are bullet trains that are usually slightly slower and cheaper, and C trains are short-distance intercity services. Second class is the standard fare on all of them.
Can I change or refund my ticket?
Yes, both are done inside the 12306 app. A change moves you to another train on the same route subject to availability; a refund is subject to a fee that rises as departure approaches. Act early.
How early should I arrive at the station?
Thirty minutes before departure is comfortable at a large station, because security screening, the ID check and the walk to the platform all take time. If your passport will not read at an automated gate, go to a staffed lane rather than retrying.
Related reading
Booking rules, train classes and waitlist behaviour follow 12306's published help documentation and are current as of September 2026. Release windows, refund fees and passport-gate coverage vary by station and are set by China Railway, confirm the details for your specific journey in the app before you rely on them.