Using identification documents. Foreign travelers can use the following valid identification documents when purchasing tickets or paying for the extended trip at the railway station's ticket officeor ticket agents, or on trains: (1) Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card; (2) Passport; (3) Foreigner's exit-entry permit; (4) Seafarer's Certificate; (5) Receipt of acceptance of a visa application issued by the exit and entry administration authority of the public security organs of China; (6) Passport loss repo

Ticket change Foreign travelers can change their tickets using the12306 website or APP, or through the ticket office at the railway station. Ticket refund Foreign travelers can cancel their tickets using the 12306 website or APP, or through the ticket office at the railway station. Service fees may be incurred depending on the time of cancellation. Railway station entry/exit and train boarding Foreign travelers can enter and exit the railway station through automatic or manual ticket check gates with the

Book tickets in advance: High-speed rail tickets are in high demand during holidays. Plan your trip early and book as soon as possible. Tickets generally become available up to 15 days in advance. Verify your ID information accurately: When booking online, ensure that the name and passport number you enter exactly match your travel documents. The 12306 system does not allow spaces or hyphens ("-") in the name field, and the character length may be limited. For example, a passport name like "

Mistake 1: Buying tickets through unauthorized third-party platforms. Correct approach: Book directly through the official "12306 China Railway" app (available in English) to avoid extra fees and potential service delays. Mistake 2: Entering your name in Western order (e.g. "John Smith") or using hyphens or spaces. Correct approach: Your name must exactly match your passport, including the order. Omit all spaces and special characters. Example: If your passport shows "Smith, John

Foreign travelers can pay in cash or by bus cards or the Alipay app to take the bus: 1.Buses usually do not provide change, so travelers need to prepare small change in advance. 2.Foreign travelers can take your passports to the service outlets of the bus companies to buy bus cards. Payment for the cards can be made in cash or by WeChat or Alipay.

Online ride-hailing services Foreign travelers can use Alipay or WeChat to book online ride-hailing services. Source: www.gov.cn

A total of 55 cities in China have metro lines. Foreign travelers can apply for metro passes at the metro station or use the Alipay APP to take the metro.

Book tickets in advance: High-speed rail tickets are in high demand during holidays. Plan your trip early and book as soon as possible. Tickets generally become available up to 15 days in advance. Verify your ID information accurately: When booking online, ensure that the name and passport number you enter exactly match your travel documents. The 12306 system does not allow spaces or hyphens ("-") in the name field, and the character length may be limited. For example, a passport name like "

You can rent a car in person at international airports and downtown rental outlets or book online.