China Train Child Tickets: Ages, Seats and Passport Rules
Sources and freshness
Static planning guidance on this page is reviewed by the China Train Tickets editorial team. Train times, fares, seat classes, and availability can change, so the live result for your selected travel date is authoritative.
- Primary operational reference
- China Railway 12306 travel rules FAQ (live results may change when railway operations change)
- Page reviewed
Travel with children: editorial diagram of key planning topics; not a photograph or official layout.
For standard mainland China rail journeys, children aged 6 to under 14 need a child ticket; those aged 14 or older need a full-fare ticket. Age is calculated on the travel date, not by height.
Which ticket does a child need?
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| Age on travel date | What to arrange |
|---|---|
| Under 6, sharing a seat | One child may travel free with each ticketed adult. Declare the child before travel; free travel does not provide a separate seat. |
| Under 6, needing a separate seat | Buy a child ticket. Extra under-six children beyond the one-per-adult allowance also need child tickets. |
| 6 to under 14 | Buy a child ticket using the child’s own valid identity document. |
| 14 and over | Buy a full-fare ticket; student discounts have separate eligibility rules. |
Foreign children and identity documents
Use each child’s own valid passport and enter their date of birth accurately. Carry the same original document on the journey, including for a declared free-travel child. A foreign passport does not replace the age rules with height rules. If the booking form cannot record a free-travel child or the correct fare type, contact support before paying. Do not enter a false birth date to force a fare.
Child fares are not always half price
12306 applies different discounts to ordinary seats, premium seats and sleeper accommodation. First- and second-class EMU seats normally use a 50% child calculation; special/business-class seats use 80%, and EMU sleepers use 70%, with railway fare-floor rules. Conventional sleeper charges have separate components. The final selected-train quote controls; do not halve the adult checkout total, which can include service charges.
Book the family on a compatible itinerary
A child ticket must match the accompanying adult’s travel date, train and class, and must not run beyond the adult’s destination. Children under 14 normally travel with an adult, subject to railway exceptions. Booking together does not guarantee adjacent seats or a particular berth. Review the issued seat numbers and ask for help early if a young child is allocated far from an adult.
Prepare for the station
As practical planning advice, allow about 60 minutes at a large unfamiliar station, with additional time for holidays or identity checks. Keep passports, snacks and essential medication accessible. Fold the stroller before boarding and follow staff directions for storage; do not block doors or aisles.
Plan your next step
Passport names · Luggage · Boarding
Sources and review date
Reviewed on 11 October 2026. These sources support the policy guidance; timetables, availability, fares and station arrangements must be checked for your travel date.
