The 12306 app for foreign travellers

The China Railway 12306 app is the official channel for booking Chinese rail tickets. It's been opened to foreign passport-holders since 2019, with a substantial English mode added in 2023. Here is how to use it.

Why use 12306 directly

Third-party apps (Trip.com, Ctrip) sell the same tickets at a small markup. Going direct via 12306: - Saves the markup (¥10-¥50 per ticket). - Better access to last-minute returned seats. - Reservations release at the same time as the third-party platforms (so no advantage there).

For most travellers a third-party app's English interface is easier; for serious rail travellers or long China trips, 12306 is worth the setup.

Registering as a foreigner

1. Download the 12306 app from your home country's app store. 2. Open and switch to English (settings icon). 3. Select 'Register'. 4. Enter your name (exactly as on passport, including all middle names). 5. Enter passport number. 6. Enter date of birth and nationality. 7. Enter mobile number — Chinese number recommended, foreign sometimes works. 8. Set password. 9. Receive SMS code to confirm. 10. Identity verification: passport scan + selfie. Approval is automatic for most countries; takes 24-48 hours.

Common issues: - Passport name format: include all words from the passport's machine-readable zone. - Foreign mobile format: prefix +86 doesn't work; use just the country code without +. - Verification rejection: usually fixed by retrying with better-lit passport scan.

Booking

After verification: 1. Open the app, tap the search bar. 2. Enter origin and destination — Chinese city names work; English major-city names work too (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, etc.). 3. Choose departure date. 4. Browse trains. G-class (高 gāo) is fastest; D-class is faster than conventional but slower than G; K and T are conventional sleeper trains for long distances. 5. Select a train. 6. Select a seat class (二等座 second class is the standard choice). 7. Add passenger (your registered profile is the default). 8. Pay — Alipay, WeChat Pay or domestic credit card.

Paying as a foreigner

Foreign credit cards on 12306: variable. Visa and Mastercard are accepted in some flows but rejected in others. The reliable workaround: link a Chinese bank card to Alipay or WeChat Pay first, then pay via Alipay/WeChat in 12306.

If you don't have a Chinese bank card, Trip.com is the better choice — it accepts foreign cards reliably.

At the station

Tickets are now mostly e-tickets — your passport at the gate scans and confirms the booking; no paper ticket required.

If you need a paper ticket (for reimbursement, etc.), the ticket office at any major station prints it for you on production of your passport and the booking number.

Refunds and changes

12306 supports refunds and date changes through the app. Policy: - Full refund up to 8 days before departure. - 95% refund 4-7 days before. - 90% refund 24h before. - 80% refund within 24h before. - 50% refund up to 25 minutes after departure for missed-train cases.

Refunds via the app are processed within 1-7 business days back to the original payment method.

What can go wrong

• Passport-name mismatch at the gate: if your booked name doesn't match your passport exactly, you may be denied boarding. Re-check the spelling at booking time.
• Sold-out trains: G-class on Beijing-Shanghai sells out 14 days ahead in Spring Festival and Golden Week. Book the day tickets release.
• App glitches: 12306 app on foreign Android sometimes acts up. iOS is generally more reliable.

Practical tips

• Book 14 days in advance for peak season; 3-5 days for off-peak.
• Second class is fine for trips under 5 hours. First class is worth it for longer.
• Sleeper trains for very long routes (Beijing-Lhasa, Urumqi) — book lower bunks if possible (less convenient bunk access for upper).
• Allow 30+ minutes at major stations for security and gate-finding.

The 12306 app is functional for foreign travellers in 2026 — substantially better than five years ago. Trip.com remains the easier choice for occasional bookings.