中国指南 · 8 min read · Reviewed 21 October 2026
How to book China high-speed train tickets with a passport
China’s high-speed network is the easiest way to cross the country. The booking rules are simple once you know the three things that trip people up.
Why the train usually beats flying为什么坐高铁
On routes under about 1,200 km, high-speed rail is faster door to door than flying once you count airport transfers, check-in and baggage. Stations are central, security is quick, and a 350 km/h G train turns a 1,000 km journey into a half-day.
The network is also the best way to see the country. A Beijing–Shanghai run is 4h30; Shanghai–Hangzhou is 45 minutes; Xi’an–Chengdu is about 3 hours. Those are not airport-to-airport numbers — they are city-centre to city-centre.
| Route | Fastest journey | Book this far ahead |
|---|---|---|
| Beijing → Shanghai | 4h30 | 7–15 days |
| Shanghai → Hangzhou | 45 min | 3–7 days |
| Xi’an → Chengdu | 3h | 7–15 days |
| Guilin → Guangzhou | 2h30 | 3–7 days |
| Chengdu → Chongqing | 1h15 | 3–7 days |
| Beijing → Xi’an | 4h30 | 7–15 days |
Book on 12306, not a reseller12306 购票
12306 is the China Railway official channel and has an English interface. Booking normally opens 15 days before departure, though a few corridors run longer pilot windows — the app shows the real opening date for your route. Third-party resellers add fees and sometimes book under the wrong document type; when something goes wrong, only 12306 can fix it.
Create the account with your passport, complete identity verification, and add each traveller as a passenger. The name and passport number must match the passport exactly — including middle names and spacing.
- Create the account at 12306.cn/en or in the official app.
- Complete real-name verification with your passport before booking.
- Add passengers exactly as their passports are printed.
- Booking normally opens 15 days ahead; popular G trains sell out within hours in peak season.
- Pay with an international card where offered, or use a Chinese payment app if you have one.
Seat classes: what to pay for座位等级
Second class is comfortable for journeys up to four hours and is where most travellers sit. First class buys a wider seat and more legroom; business class is a flat-bed-like seat on the newest trains and rarely worth the multiple for a daytime run.
On overnight routes, look for a D train with a sleeper rather than a G train with an upright seat. The difference between a good night and a bad one is the train type, not the class name.
| Class | Best for | Typical layout |
|---|---|---|
| Second class | Journeys under 4 hours | 3+2 seating |
| First class | Longer daytime journeys | 2+2 seating, more legroom |
| Business class | Splurge or overnight work | 1+2 or 1+1 on newer trains |
| Sleeper (D trains) | Overnight routes | Bunk beds in a shared cabin |
At the station: passport, security, gate进站乘车
There is no paper ticket for most travellers. Your passport is the ticket: you scan it at the gate, and the gate prints a small receipt if you need one. Security screens every bag at the entrance, so allow time for the queue.
Arrive 30–45 minutes early. Large stations are the size of airports, with multiple levels and gates that can be a ten-minute walk apart. Gates close five minutes before departure and do not reopen.
- Enter through the security check with your passport in hand.
- Find your train on the departure board by train number, not destination alone.
- Scan the passport at the gate; keep it accessible for the whole process.
- Gates close five minutes before departure — plan to be at the gate ten minutes early.
- Luggage racks at carriage ends take large cases; overhead racks take cabin bags.
Changes, refunds and missed trains改签与退票
You can change or refund through 12306 before departure. The fee scales with how close you are to departure, and refunds return to the original payment method. If you miss the train, go to the ticket office the same day: staff can sometimes rebook you onto a later service, but it is not guaranteed and peak-season seats may be gone.
Build a buffer if you are connecting to a flight. A delayed train is rare, but a missed connection is expensive, and the airport express from a major station can take longer than you expect.
Questions people ask
- Can foreigners book train tickets on 12306?
- Yes. The English site and app accept foreign passports. You need to complete real-name verification and add each passenger exactly as their passport is printed.
- Do I need a paper ticket?
- No. Your passport is the ticket at the gate for most services. Keep the passport in hand through security and boarding.
- How far ahead can I book?
- Booking normally opens 15 days before departure; a few corridors run longer pilot windows. In peak season, popular G trains can sell out within hours of opening.
- Can I take large luggage on a high-speed train?
- Yes. There is no check-in; large cases go on the racks at the carriage ends and cabin bags go overhead. Avoid rush hour if you have several large cases.
Official sources
Related practical guides
- High-speed rail — The world’s largest high-speed network — how to book, board and not miss your train.
- Getting around — Metro, taxi, ride-hailing and buses — how each works and which to use when.
- Attraction tickets — Almost every major attraction now requires a timed online reservation, often days ahead.
- Packing & what to wear — Season-by-season packing for a country with a 40°C north-south temperature spread.