Book trains with 12306 in English

Before searching

Open the official China Railway 12306 English website or the official app. The inspected English FAQ accepts valid foreign passports for real-name ticketing. Prepare your passport details and an email or phone account you can still access while travelling.

A practical booking sequence

Screen labels and payment options can change. Follow the operator’s current instructions if they differ from this overview.

1. Register or sign in, then enter passenger names and passport details exactly as the document and operator form require.
2. Complete the identity checks shown for each passenger before relying on an account for a time-sensitive booking.
3. Search the exact origin and destination stations and date. Large cities can have several stations.
4. Compare the listed service, departure time, arrival station and seat or berth class. Review the total and change terms before payment.
5. Confirm the order is issued successfully. Save the train number, date, station names and booking reference offline.
6. Travel with the same original passport. At the station, ask staff for the appropriate passport verification or staffed lane if an automatic gate does not accept it.

If verification or payment fails

Read the actual error, check the document number and name, and use 12306 support or a staffed railway ticket window as directed. Do not repeatedly create new passenger identities to work around a mismatch. A pending order, payment attempt or screenshot is not confirmation of an issued ticket.

At the station

Allow time for reaching the correct station, security, document checks and the walk to the gate. Watch the departure boards and station announcements: the operator warns that sales and ticket checks close before departure, with local timing shown at the station. An itinerary printout is not a substitute for your ticket and identification.