China's High-speed Train Guide

How to Buy Tickets on 12306 and Board a Train

If you are traveling in China for the first time, the railway system is one of the easiest ways to move between cities. This guide explains how foreign passport holders can use the official 12306 platform to register, buy tickets, and board a train, and then compares it with Trip.com as a more multilingual booking option. The official 12306 English website provides ticket purchase, endorsement, refund, and destination-change services, and the English registration page states that only foreign passports are accepted for registration.

China High-Speed Train Guide cover image.

I. Before You Start

The most important document is your passport. On the 12306 English website, foreign passengers can purchase real-name tickets with valid passports, and for e-tickets the same valid ID document used to buy the ticket must be shown when entering, exiting, and boarding. The site also states that its information query and ticket refund services are available 24 hours a day, while ticket sales and endorsement services run from 5:00 to 1:00 the next day, and until 23:30 on Tuesdays.

Preparation checklist: app download, passport, and travel planning.

A practical rule is simple: register early, because ticketing on 12306 follows real-name rules and the passenger information you use must match your passport details. The English platform only accepts foreign passports for registration, so this guide is specifically for international travelers using that document type. 

II. How to Register on 12306

Open the 12306 app or official website and choose the registration flow. The 12306 English site is the official China Railway customer-service platform, and the site itself states that foreign passport holders can register there.

12306 registration screen and passport entry step.

When filling in your details, enter your name exactly as it appears on your passport. This matters because 12306 uses real-name ticketing, and the passenger’s valid ID document must match the ticket information used for check-in and boarding.

Passport verification / identity-check screen.

After registration, complete any identity-verification prompts shown by the app or website. 12306’s English FAQ states that registered users with ID information marked “verified” or “ready to be verified” can buy tickets for themselves or others, which is why finishing verification early is useful.

III. How to Add Passengers

If you are traveling with family or friends, you can add them to your passenger list. The 12306 FAQ says registered users with verified or ready-to-be-verified ID information can buy tickets for themselves or others, and the passenger name and valid ID information must be entered accurately.

Add passengers / My Passengers screen.

For repeated trips, saving passenger details in advance saves time. This is especially useful if one person is booking multiple tickets for a group. 12306 also notes that a valid ID can be used to buy only one ticket for the same train on the same date of travel, so accuracy matters.

IV. How to Search and Buy Tickets

Enter your departure station, destination station, and travel date. On the official 12306 platform, tickets can be purchased through the website or mobile app, and the official site offers the same core ticketing flow for search, purchase, refund, and change services.

Search results page: departure, destination, date, and train options.

Choose the train that matches your schedule and the ticket type you want. 12306’s official platform is the direct railway booking channel, while Trip.com is a third-party booking platform that also sells China train tickets.

Order submission screen / payment confirmation screen.

For payment, follow the prompts shown inside the platform you are using. Trip.com’s official train pages say it accepts international credit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay, and its FAQ says it supports more than 17 languages with 24/7 customer service. Trip.com also states that it charges a booking fee per ticket.

V. How to Board the Train

Bring the same passport used for booking. 12306’s official FAQ says passengers must reserve the e-ticket information and the valid ID document used to purchase the ticket, and must show that ID document when checking in, exiting the station, and boarding the train. It also says that neither the itinerary sheet nor the reimbursement receipt can be used as tickets.

Boarding steps: passport check, security check, platform directions.

At the station, follow the signs and staff instructions, pass security, and use the correct platform shown for your train. Trip.com’s own guide also says that no paper ticket is required when boarding with the same ID used in the booking, which matches the basic e-ticket flow described by 12306.

VI. Important Notes You Should Know

Refunds and changes are handled by the official system, and 12306 has clear rules. The FAQ says endorsement means changing the travel date, train number, or seat/berth when seats are available, and destination changes must be requested at least 48 hours before departure. The refund-fee rules are also published on the official FAQ: no fee if refunded more than 8 days before departure, 5% if more than 48 hours before departure, 10% if less than 48 hours and more than 24 hours, and 20% if less than 24 hours.

Important notes: refunds, rescheduling, and luggage reminders.

The English site also states that ticket sales and endorsement services run from 5:00 to 1:00 the next day, except Tuesdays when the window ends at 23:30. If you are planning to book around a holiday period, do not wait until the last minute. 

VII. 12306 vs Trip.com

The cleanest way to compare them is this:

12306 is the official China Railway booking platform. It is direct, official, and designed around China Railway’s own real-name ticketing rules. The English registration page accepts foreign passports only, and the official FAQ explains the boarding and refund rules in detail.

Trip.com is the more convenient option for many first-time visitors. Its official train pages say it supports over 17 languages, accepts international credit cards and other common online payment methods, provides 24/7 customer service, and charges a booking fee per ticket.

12306 vs Trip.com comparison chart.

If your priority is the official railway system and direct booking, use 12306. If your priority is a smoother multilingual experience with broader payment flexibility, Trip.com is often easier for foreign travelers. That conclusion follows from the two platforms’ official descriptions of language support, payment methods, and booking flow.