Walling Hotel - Jiefangbei Hongyadong, Chongqing
Tourist Assistant
12306 Railway
China's official train booking app for high-speed rail and regular trains. Foreigners can register with a passport and buy tickets directly -- no agent fees, real-time schedules, and e-ticket QR code boarding.
Apps
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Download
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Features
- ✓ Book high-speed rail (G/D/C trains) and regular trains (K/Z/T) across all routes in China with real-time seat availability.
- ✓ The English version supports foreign-passport registration and online identity verification (automatic checks pass instantly, manual review takes about 3–5 working days) — once verified you can buy tickets yourself.
- ✓ Interactive seat map lets you pick window, aisle, or specific seats on high-speed trains before confirming your booking.
- ✓ E-ticket system with QR code -- scan at the gate with your passport, no paper ticket needed at most major stations.
- ✓ Real-time train delay and cancellation notifications pushed to your phone so you can adjust plans instantly.
- ✓ Ticket change and refund functions built into the app -- modify travel dates or get refunds without visiting a counter.
- ✓ Waitlist feature (houbu) automatically books you onto a sold-out train if someone cancels, with full refund if unsuccessful.
- ✓ Student and child ticket discounts available directly in the app when applicable.
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How to Use
1
Download the 12306 app (search 'Railway 12306' or '铁路12306') from the App Store or your Android store before arriving in China.
2
Open the app and tap 【注册】 (Register). Select 'Passport' as your ID type and fill in your name exactly as it appears on your passport.
3
Complete identity verification — the English version lets you submit passport details online; automatic checks pass instantly, manual review takes about 3–5 working days, so do it before your trip.
4
Search for trains by entering your departure city, destination city, and travel date. Use English city names or pinyin.
5
Select a train from the results list. 'G' trains are the fastest high-speed rail, 'D' are fast, 'K/Z/T' are slower but cheaper.
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Choose your seat class (Second Class is standard and comfortable, First Class has wider seats, Business Class is like airplane first class).
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Confirm your booking and pay using Alipay, WeChat Pay, or a linked Chinese bank card. International credit cards are not directly supported.
8
On travel day, arrive at the station 30 minutes early. Scan your passport at the automated gate or show it at the manual checkpoint to board.
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FAQ
Yes. Foreign passport holders can register and buy tickets. You must complete real-name verification first, which may require visiting a station counter with your passport for the initial setup. After that, you can book everything through the app.
Yes. The 12306 English version accepts international bank cards directly; alternatively link your international card to Alipay and pay through Alipay.
No. Most major stations now support e-ticket entry. Just scan your passport at the automated gates. A few smaller rural stations may still require paper tickets, which you can collect from self-service machines using your passport.
Tickets go on sale 15 days before departure. Popular routes during holidays (Chinese New Year, Golden Week, summer) sell out within minutes. Book as soon as tickets open for holiday travel. Regular days usually have availability.
Use the waitlist feature (houbu/候补). The app will automatically try to get you a ticket if someone cancels. You are charged only if a ticket is secured; otherwise you get a full refund. Success rate is quite high on most routes.
Yes. You can change the date or train once for free before departure. Refunds are processed in the app with a small fee deducted depending on how close to departure you cancel. More than 48 hours: 5% fee. Less than 24 hours: 20% fee.
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Important Notes
Manual review of foreign-passport identity verification takes about 3–5 working days — complete it well before your trip.
The Chinese version has limited support for international cards — for foreign-card payment use the English version, or pay via Alipay with a linked foreign card.
Holiday periods (Chinese New Year, May 1st, October Golden Week) tickets sell out extremely fast. Book the moment tickets open at 15 days before departure.
Your passport name on 12306 must match your physical passport exactly, including middle names and spacing, or you will be denied boarding.
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