China Train Rules for Foreign Travelers: Passport to Boarding
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 ticketing FAQ (live results may change when railway operations change)
- Page reviewed
Travel with a passport: editorial diagram of key planning topics; not a photograph or official layout.
Foreign visitors can travel on China’s railway using an accepted valid identity document, including a foreign passport. The key is to match the ticket to that document and follow the rules for the actual service you book.
Passport, ticket and passenger must match
Use your passport name and number when booking and carry the same original passport. Complete any identity-verification request before travel. A scan on your phone, an order email or a payment receipt does not replace the original document. If a gate cannot read your passport, use the staffed channel and follow the station’s instructions.
Understand when tickets become available
The normal railway presale window is 15 days including today. Station-specific release times and timetable changes can affect availability. Earlier agency requests and paid orders awaiting ticketing are not a guarantee of an issued seat. Check the final ticket status before relying on a connection.
Children use age-based categories
For ordinary mainland services, ages 6 to under 14 require a child ticket; age 14 and above requires full fare. Age is determined on the travel date. One under-six child per ticketed adult can travel free without a separate seat after being declared; extra children or a separate seat require the appropriate child ticket. Use the child’s own valid document. Discounts differ by seat and berth category.
Check luggage and station security
Standard allowances are normally 20 kg for adults and 10 kg for children, with separate size limits: on EMU trains, each item’s three dimensions combined must not exceed 130 cm. Restricted items have category-specific limits. Pack so you can move your own bags, keep travel documents accessible and leave time for security screening.
Board the booked train from the booked station
Confirm the exact station, train number, local date, class and seat or berth. Large cities have several stations. The platform and gate may be announced or changed locally; use the departure boards. As planning advice, arrive around 45–60 minutes early at an unfamiliar major station and longer for busy periods or document checks. Boarding closes before departure.
Changes, refunds and cross-border journeys
Contact the original seller as early as possible when plans change. Fees depend on timing, ticket history and the requested change; a sent request is not a completed cancellation. Cross-border services, including journeys to or from Hong Kong West Kowloon, can have separate ticket, luggage and border-control requirements. A train reservation is not permission to enter a country or region.
Plan your next step
Passport entry · Child tickets · Luggage limits · Changes and refunds
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.
