Buy a China train ticket with a foreign passport

Book the ticket

1. 12306 is China Railway’s ticket service. Use its English website or official app. Create your account before a time-sensitive journey.
2. Select foreign passport as the document type. Enter the name and number as required by the passport and current form; complete identity checks.
3. Search the exact departure and arrival station, date and train. Guangzhou South, East, Baiyun and Guangzhou Railway Station are separate places.
4. Pay, then check that the order shows the right passenger, train, departure station and time. Save the order number and seat details.

At the station

Bring the original passport used for the booking. Follow departure/security signs, then find your train number on the board.

If a gate cannot read your passport, ask the staff beside it for a manual check. An itinerary sheet is a journey record, not a substitute identity document.

If the app will not verify you

Go to a staffed railway ticket counter with your original passport and the error or order details. Ask for identity verification or a ticket purchase, whichever you need. Do this before departure day if possible; queues and availability can still stop a last-minute journey.