China's railway passenger transport implements real-name ticket management. Foreign nationals can purchase tickets with their Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card, passport, entry-exit permit, acceptance receipt for foreigner's visa document issued by the public security organs or certification of passport loss report, or temporary international travel documents issued by embassies and consulates in China (with valid visas or stay permits issued by the public security bureau attached) under their real names. Passengers shall cooperate with security checks. For details, please visit the official website of China Railway 12306 (https://kyfw.12306.cn).

Tips | Buying tickets with a Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card

Passengers holding a Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card can register and purchase tickets online. They can also complete real-name verification and ticket inspection by themselves at the station gates on their own. Additionally, they have access to the same online and self-service options provided by the railway department as those holding resident identity cards.

The railway department has launched an online identity verification service for foreign passports. Foreign passengers can log in to the 12306 website and fill in their name, nationality, ID number and other information according to the system prompts, and the system will automatically complete the identity verification. Passengers can also choose to submit photos of their passport information pages online for manual verification by the backend. In addition to online verification, passengers can still go to the ticketing counters for verification. Foreign passengers can only purchase tickets and board trains after passing their identity verification. Passengers holding foreign passports are requested to check the identity verification status promptly and complete the identity information verification as soon as possible to avoid any issues with ticket purchases and travel.

Foreign passengers can purchase train tickets online through the English version of the 12306 website or the 12306 App, or directly at the ticketing counters of the railway station. To pick up paper tickets for boarding, foreign passengers are required to bring their passports to the ticketing counters or a ticket agency.