If you plan to buy a train ticket at a station with a foreign passport, check the specific station's ticket-window location and hours before travelling there. This guide covers the counter, not online account verification.
What the railway confirms
The China Railway 12306 FAQ says foreign passengers can buy real-name tickets with valid passports accepted under the relevant rules. Ticket counters at railway stations are an official sales channel. The State Council's travel guide says a valid passport can be used at a station ticket office for purchase and identity verification; the station's signage or cashier determines applicable on-site payment methods.
Before and at the window
- Confirm that your selected station has a ticket window serving your journey and check its current hours through the station or 12306 service channel.
- Bring the original passport you intend to use for both purchase and travel. Have the destination, travel date and preferred train or class ready.
- Ask the cashier which payment methods that window accepts before relying on one card or wallet.
- Before paying, check the passenger name, document number, train, date and stations shown in the booking.
- Keep the booking details and the same original passport for station entry and boarding. An electronic ticket does not require collecting a paper ticket merely to board; the 12306 FAQ says the ID used to buy the ticket is shown for check-in and boarding. A reimbursement receipt or itinerary sheet is not a boarding ticket.
If the counter cannot complete the purchase
Ask staff whether the issue is identity verification, ticket availability, payment or the counter's service hours. The State Council guide says a valid passport may be taken to the station ticket office for identity verification. Confirm the next step with 12306 or station staff; do not assume an app account is required for this counter route.