China trains: tickets, passports & the station

01

Plan the whole transfer, not just the train ride

Compare hotel transfers as well as rail time. A later train may create a more comfortable day, especially with children or several bags. Keep the arrival evening light.

Cities can have multiple stations. Check full names, including South, West or North, and save the Chinese name and map pin. Your ticket is for the specified station.

• Compare the actual service, seat class and fare shown for your travel date.
• Leave generous margins before an international flight or a separately booked connection.
• Confirm transfers and rail fares separately in your tour proposal.

Official & provider information: [7] 12306: ticket and boarding reminders ↗

02

Know when a ticket is really available

Ordinary domestic tickets generally use a 15-day sales window including the purchase day. Check the current 12306 calendar and your station or train’s release time; specific arrangements can vary.

An advance request or waitlist is not an issued ticket. Prepare alternative departures and seat classes, especially around holidays. Confirm the actual order status before committing to a tight onward connection.

1. Before release

   Prepare passenger details and acceptable departures or seat classes.

2. When booking

   Check route, fare and payment deadline before completing purchase.

3. After purchase

   Check issuance and every passenger; save carriage and seat details offline.

Official & provider information: [3] 12306: current booking-window calendar ↗ [2] 12306: English ticketing and travel FAQ ↗

03

Set up foreign-passport verification early

Use an accepted valid passport for real-name tickets. On the official 12306 website or app, follow the displayed verification status. Passport holders may need photo uploads or station-counter checks; approval is not necessarily immediate.

Enter passport details carefully using 12306’s name-format instructions. If verification fails, compare with the original. Long or unusual names may need counter assistance; avoid conflicting duplicate passenger records.

• Use the same current passport for the booking and journey.
• Do not send passport scans to unknown ticket sellers or upload them to unofficial imitation sites.
• Tell your planner promptly if the passport changes after a ticket is issued.

Official & provider information: [4] 12306: real-name ticketing and identity rules ↗ [5] 12306: foreign-passport photo verification ↗ [6] 12306: passenger-name entry instructions ↗

04

Reach the correct station with time to spare

SACTOUR suggests arriving about 60 minutes early for a first visit, allowing longer for holidays, large stations, assistance or passport verification. This is planning advice, not a universal check-in deadline.

Carry the original booking passport. An itinerary printout or screenshot cannot replace the identity document. If a reader cannot process your passport, ask staff for manual-check assistance.

1. Enter and pass security

   Have your passport accessible, screen bags and keep the party together.

2. Find the departure

   Match train number and date; check the waiting area and gate.

3. Board when called

   Find your carriage and seat. Gates close before departure; do not arrive at the last minute.

Official & provider information: [7] 12306: ticket and boarding reminders ↗ [2] 12306: English ticketing and travel FAQ ↗

05

Pack for carrying and storing your own bags

The published cabin-luggage allowance is 20 kg for ordinary adults and 10 kg for children. On EMU trains, each item must total no more than 130 cm in length, width and height, and weigh no more than 20 kg. Necessary folding mobility wheelchairs and accompanying infants’ folding strollers are excluded from this allowance.

Pack bags you can manage and store without blocking aisles. Keep documents, medicines and valuables near you. Check restricted-item rules before packing sharp tools, pressurised products or unusual equipment.

Official & provider information: [8] 12306: cabin-luggage rules ↗

06

Make the journey comfortable

Keep a charged phone, cable, water and essential medication accessible. Use headphones, keep noise low and watch children near doors. Check the stop list and set your own arrival reminder.

Gather bags before arrival without blocking passageways. Have your passport ready for any exit check. Confirm the pickup point and driver’s contact before leaving the train.

Official & provider information: [7] 12306: ticket and boarding reminders ↗

07

Review the refund amount before confirming a change

Standard domestic advance-refund bands appear below. Minimum charges, rounding, changed-ticket conditions or special rules can affect the final calculation. Check 12306’s displayed amount before confirming.

Eligible accidental purchases paid electronically or with points on official 12306 channels can qualify for a free refund within 30 minutes, with at least four hours before departure, limited to one order per registered user per day. Exclusions include rebooked, waitlisted and group tickets; check the full eligibility conditions.

Changes depend on seats and may involve fare differences or fees. Use the original booking channel, distinguishing railway deductions from agreed agency or tour charges. Act promptly; a missed train is not automatically refundable.

Official & provider information: [9] 12306: refund and change conditions ↗ [10] 12306: published refund and change fees ↗ [2] 12306: English ticketing and travel FAQ ↗

08

Check children, assistance and cross-border travel separately

Provide each child’s age, document details and seat needs; an adult ticket does not automatically reserve a child’s seat. Arrange wheelchair or other assistance before travel.

Hong Kong and other cross-border services have separate ticketing, immigration and document arrangements. Follow route-specific instructions. For a missed train or document error, consult station staff and the booking provider before buying replacements or boarding another service.

Official & provider information: [2] 12306: English ticketing and travel FAQ ↗ [11] 12306: Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong cross-border rules ↗