How to Book China Trains With a Passport
Book a China Railway ticket with your passport, choose the full station names, and travel with the original document.
Use 12306 English, enter the full stations shown for your train, and carry the original booking passport. For Beijing to Xi'an, a common high-speed example is Beijing West (北京西) to Xi'an North (西安北), but not every service must use that pair. Confirm the exact date and train in the current 12306 result before paying.
Do the three steps
Travel-day contextThe station sequence is clear once the ticket is confirmed
Save the full station name, train, gate, coach, and seat, then keep the original booking passport available.
Use 12306 when you want the official booking and service route.
Complete passport verification early and use the full stations shown for the train. A common Beijing to Xi'an example is Beijing West (北京西) to Xi'an North (西安北), but confirm the exact 12306 result.
Do these three things
These three actions cover the normal path. Special cases and deeper detail follow below.
- 1
Verify the passenger
Create the 12306 account and enter the passport name, nationality, and document number exactly.
- 2
Book the full route
Read Beijing West, not just Beijing, and Xi'an North, not just Xi'an. Then check the date, train, passenger, passport, and seat before paying.
- 3
Travel with the passport
Save the confirmed order, allow time for security, and use the staffed gate if the passport is not read automatically.
Choose who will own the booking problem
The best route is the one whose verification, support, change, and refund process you understand.
12306 English
Book directly with China Railway and manage the order through the official account and service route.
Identified booking service
Use when you value additional booking support. Check who issues the ticket and handles changes or refunds.
Station ticket office
A useful fallback for document verification or a booking issue. Bring the original passport.
See the 12306 passport-booking sequence
This 18-second AI demonstration shows the stable decision order, not a live 12306 interface. Verification labels, trains, stations, sales status, and gate details must be checked in the current official service.
- 1Add each passenger with details copied exactly from the passport.
- 2Open the exact train and match both complete station names before paying.
- 3Carry the original booking passport and use staffed help when needed.
You are ready when...
- Every passenger has reached the required verification state.
- Both complete station names are saved in English and Chinese from the selected train.
- The order shows successful ticketing, not only a request or itinerary.
- The original passport used for booking is ready for travel day.
Special cases and detailed steps
These sections cover device, account, booking, and travel-day conditions outside the normal path.
Choose the station before the train
Major cities can have several stations far apart. On a Beijing to Xi'an search, Beijing West (北京西) to Xi'an North (西安北) is a common high-speed example. The words West and North are part of the station names; Beijing (北京) and Xi'an (西安) are different stations.
Use this example to recognize the pattern, not to preselect the route. Search your date in 12306, open the intended train, compare the complete origin and destination with your hotel and airport, and save the Chinese characters for the driver or map app.
Treat a station transfer as a separate journey. A fast train does not make up for a long cross-city trip to the wrong terminal.
Complete passport verification early
The government guide says foreign travelers can enter name, nationality, and passport information on 12306 for automatic verification, upload the passport information page for manual review, or take the passport to a station ticket office.
Do this before the preferred travel date becomes urgent. If you use another booking service, read who issues the ticket, how identity is verified, and where changes and refunds are handled.
Check every field before payment
Match the date, train number, both full stations, passenger, passport number, and seat class. For example, read Beijing West (北京西), not just Beijing, and Xi'an North (西安北), not just Xi'an. Save the order confirmation locally and keep access to the original payment method for any refund.
Do not rely on a fixed advance-sales number from an old article. Search the intended date in 12306 and check current notices around public holidays or schedule changes.
- Confirm the travel date and full station names
- Select the verified passenger
- Review the passport number and seat class
- Pay and confirm that ticketing completed
- Save the order and station names offline
Follow the station sequence
Bring the original passport used to buy the ticket. Allow time for the station entrance, security screening, waiting hall, gate, platform, carriage, and seat. Watch the station display and the gate shown for your train.
Official guidance says foreign travelers may use automatic or manual ticket-check gates with the original booking document. If a gate does not read the passport, use the staffed channel rather than trying a different document.
Handle a change before improvising
12306 provides ticket changes and refunds subject to current timing, availability, and fee rules. If you miss a train or the itinerary changes, open the order or go directly to the station ticket office and ask what can still be changed.
Do not board a different train on the assumption that the old ticket will transfer automatically. Keep the original payment method available because refunds normally return through that route.
If something does not work
Match the issue to one recovery step, then move to the backup when time matters.
Passport verification is pending.
Use the passport upload route shown by 12306 or take the original passport to a station ticket office.
You selected the wrong station.
Check whether the ticket can still be changed. Recalculate the local transfer before accepting a replacement.
The automatic gate rejects the passport.
Use the staffed manual check channel with the original passport and booking record.
You miss the train.
Go to the ticket office or open 12306 immediately. Any change depends on current rules and seat availability.
If verification or an automatic gate does not work, take the original passport and saved order to the station ticket office or staffed check channel.
Sources and currentnessReviewed 16 Jul 2026; next review due 23 Jul 2026
Recheck when it matters: The Beijing West to Xi'an North pair is a recognition example, not a route guarantee. Stations, schedules, availability, sales dates, change fees, payment methods, and gate procedures can change. Use the full stations in the current 12306 result and station announcement.
- China Railway 12306 ticketing FAQChina Railway 12306
- China Railway ticketing, changes, and refundsChina Railway 12306
- China Railway station and ticket searchChina Railway 12306
- Guide to Working and Living in China, 2025 editionThe State Council and Ministry of Commerce
Frequently asked questions
Can foreigners book China train tickets with a passport?
Yes. China Railway states that valid foreign passports can be used for real-name ticketing on the 12306 English website, app, and at station ticket offices, subject to identity verification.
Do I need to collect a paper train ticket?
Normally no for an e-ticket. Carry the original passport used for the booking. The printable 12306 itinerary sheet is not a ticket for boarding.
How early should I arrive at a Chinese railway station?
There is no single safe time for every station. Allow for local travel, station entrance, security, document checks, and the walk to the gate, with extra time during busy periods.
Which stations should I use from Beijing to Xi'an?
Beijing West (北京西) to Xi'an North (西安北) is a common high-speed example, but it is not a guarantee for every service. Search the date in 12306 and use the full origin and destination shown for the exact train you select.
What should I do if I miss a train in China?
Open the 12306 order or go to the station ticket office immediately. A change may be possible under the current rules, but it depends on timing and seat availability.