How to Buy China Train Tickets

There are four ways to buy China train tickets:
1. Book from a reliable booking agency;
2. Buy from China train ticket offices at railway stations or in downtown;
3. Reserve a train ticket on the official website of China Rail Corporation: 12306.cn;
4. Call 95105105 to book a ticket.

If you don’t speak or read Chinese, booking agencies can make your China train ticket booking easy and convenient.

Documents Required for China Train Ticket Booking

When booking China train tickets, valid ID certificate is needed. Foreign passengers can use their passport to get a train ticket and passengers from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan can use Mainland Travel Permit.

When to Buy China Train Tickets

China train tickets are put on shelves 30 days ahead of the departure date on 12306.cn and hotline 95101105, 28 days ahead at railway stations and ticket outlets. Passengers are advised to buy a ticket as early as possible in case they are sold out, especially tickets for the hot train routes and big holidays like Chinese New Year around late January to middle February or National Day holiday from October 1-7.

1. Buy China Train Tickets from Booking Agencies

Many foreigners know little or nothing about Chinese, so it is quite challenging to book the China train tickets. Those booking agencies will solve the language barrier and make your China train ticket booking easy.

If you want your China train trip pleasant and enjoyable, then you can just choose AgateTravel. AgateTravel offers excellent train tickets booking services for passengers who speak or understand English. We have no limitation of pre-sale period.

2. Purchase at railway stations or ticket outlets

One can also buy the train tickets at any one of the railway stations or the tickets outlets in mainland China 28 days earlier than the departure date. If you want to buy the train ticket at the ticket outlets, the service fee of CNY 5 is charged.

Kind Reminders:

a. Before going, learn some useful Chinese phases and write down all the necessary information about the train you want as train number, seat class, departure date and arrival station to make sure that you buy the train tickets smoothly.
b. Remember to bring your passport if you are foreigners or Mainland Travel Permit if you are from Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau.

3. Book on the website of 12306.cn

If you want to book the train tickets on 12306.cn, you may need to pay attention to the following things.

1. Its pre-sale time is 30 days before departure.
2. This website is only in Chinese.
3. Register in 12306.cn by a Chinese phone number.
4. Ensure that the name on the website is the name on your passport.
5. Pay within 30 minutes by a Chinese bank card, Alipay or WeChat pay.
6. You have time to collect the paper ticket at railway stations.

4. Book via 95105105

If you can listen to and speak Chinese well, you can book the train tickets via 95105105 at most 30 days before the departure. After booking successfully, you need to collect the paper ticket at the railway station within 24 hours or the tickets will be cancelled. If you know little Chinese, this booking channel is not applicable.