trains
12306 · 铁路12306
The official China Railway app. High-speed train tickets with no middleman markup.
- Language
- English available
- Phone number
- a foreign one works
- Payment
- Alipay, WeChat Pay
What 12306 is for
High-speed trains are the easiest way between Chinese cities: Beijing–Shanghai in 4.5 hours, centre to centre. 12306 is the only official seller: aggregators buy there too and add a service fee.
The ticket is tied to your passport — no paper ticket; you enter the station with your passport.
How to install
Download 12306
Install the app only from the official store or the developer’s website.
There’s no official app on Google Play — on Android use the official website or buy through Trip.com.
iPhone — from the App Store
The 铁路12306 app by the Academy of Railway Sciences. Beware of paid clones with look-alike icons.
Android — from the official website
The official 12306 isn’t on Google Play. Download the APK only from 12306.cn — the app download section.
Switch to English
我的 → 设置 → 语言 / English. You can also use the 12306.cn website in English.
Registration
Passport details
Document type 护照 (passport), name in Latin letters exactly as in the passport, number, nationality, expiry.
Identity check
A foreign passport is verified online or, if that fails, at any station ticket office with your passport. It usually takes from a few hours to a day.
How to buy a ticket
Route and date
Sales open about 15 days before travel. G and D trains are high-speed; the rest are much slower.
Class
二等座 second class, 一等座 first, 商务座 business. On popular trains second class sells out first.
Boarding
Arrive 40–60 minutes early: security, passport check, finding the gate. The gate number (检票口) is on the board.
Careful
Bring the same passport the ticket was bought with: without it you won’t get through the gate or onto the train.
In-depth guide on the topic
Transport
How to buy high-speed rail tickets
12306, passport verification, the G/D/C classes and what to do about refunds.
Open the guideDidn’t find the guide you needed?
Describe it in your own words — a concierge will reply and take you through it step by step.