Getting Around China
China's high-speed rail makes the classic first-timer route easy. Here is how to buy tickets as a foreigner and what each leg costs.
China Train Tickets 2026: First-Timer's High-Speed Rail Guide
Buy China train tickets as a foreign visitor: 12306 vs Trip.com decided for you, the passport-as-ticket system, the 15-day booking window, plus a route and fare table.
How to Buy Train Tickets in China (12306 and Trip.com, 2026)
How to buy train tickets in China as a foreigner: register on 12306 with your passport, pay with a foreign card or Alipay, or book on Trip.com, then board with your passport.