China Train Passport Names: How to Enter Passenger Details
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 passport FAQ (live results may change when railway operations change)
- Page reviewed
Passport & name details: editorial diagram of key planning topics; not a photograph or official layout.
Book with the passenger’s own valid travel document and carry that same original document to the station. Match the name to the passport; do not substitute a nickname, an airline booking display or the payer’s billing name.
Use the passport as your reference
Read the surname and given-name fields on the passport’s identity page. Include the given names required by the booking form rather than guessing which middle names can be dropped. If a form separates surname and given names, put each part in the matching field; do not reverse them to imitate a single combined-name field.
Spaces, punctuation and long names
12306’s dedicated foreign-passport instructions use the printed name as the main reference and the machine-readable zone as a supporting reference. They specify English-letter entry with spaces between name groups; machine-readable separators are not typed as literal angle brackets. For hyphens, apostrophes, accented characters, a single name or an unusually long name, follow the form’s guidance and ask support if it cannot represent the document. Do not silently truncate or invent a surname. Different booking forms can apply different field limits.
Check the document, not just the spelling
- Select the correct document type and nationality.
- Copy the passport number carefully; check visually similar letters and digits.
- Enter the actual date of birth, which also determines child-ticket eligibility.
- If the passport has been renewed, ask how to update the booking before travel. A ticket under the old document should not be assumed to match the new one.
Identity verification is a separate step
A payment receipt is not proof that railway identity verification or ticket issuance has succeeded. Follow any request for document verification through the booking channel. Official 12306 guidance for international travelers describes online checks and station-window assistance. At the station, use a staffed channel if the gate cannot read your document and allow additional time.
If you notice a mistake
Contact the seller promptly with the order reference and the field that needs correction. Avoid creating a duplicate booking while the original is being checked. Issued tickets cannot be assumed to support a simple name edit; the remedy depends on ticket status and railway rules. Share passport images only through the seller’s designated secure support process.
Plan your next step
Booking steps · Children’s documents · Boarding with a passport
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.
