China train ticket booking checklist

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Booking readiness

0 of 7 checks complete

RouteConfirm the exact stationsMatch the departure and arrival stations to your itinerary; large cities often have several railway stations.PassengerUse the passport you will carryEnter the passenger name and valid foreign-passport details accurately, then bring that original passport for the journey.PassengerComplete passenger verification earlyCheck that the passenger is verified or ready to be verified before a time-sensitive booking day.BookingStart with the official 12306 routeUse the official English website or Railway 12306 app, and avoid sites presenting themselves as official railway sales channels.BookingPrepare payment and a fallbackHave the intended payment method ready and keep another payment path available if the first attempt fails.After bookingSave the order and itinerary detailsKeep the train number, date, stations, departure time, order reference, and passenger details available offline.Travel dayPlan time for station entryBring the booking passport and leave time for security, document checks, and finding the correct waiting area.

A readiness check, not a ticket search

This tool does not check live trains, prices, seat inventory, passenger-verification status, or whether a payment will succeed. Recheck every booking detail in the official 12306 service before paying.

Official guidance checked

China Railway says foreign passengers can buy real-name tickets with a valid passport and should use the original booking document for station entry and boarding. The English website accepts valid foreign passports.

Sources checked

If the booking passport becomes a problem

Choose the path that matches the document you can carry. A failed automatic scan is different from losing or replacing the passport tied to the booking.

Fix a passport gate that cannot read your original document →
Recover when the booking passport is lost or replaced →
Read the full China train ticket booking guide →