Bullet Trains and Subways in China: The Ultimate Transport Guide

Direct answer: Buy China train tickets with the same passport you will carry to the station. China Railway accepts foreign passports for real-name ticketing, and stations provide manual verification when an automated gate cannot read a document. For city transport, prepare Alipay or a local ticket option, then confirm your destination city's rules in the app.

Checked August 25, 2026. Ticket sales windows, station equipment, card acceptance and city transport features can change.

Choose the right way to book

Booking route	What it is good for	What to verify before paying
12306, China Railway's official service	Official timetable, ticket and change/refund rules.	Your passport profile is correct, the train is on sale, and the payment method works for your account.
Trip.com or another travel platform	An English booking flow that some international travellers prefer.	Its service fee, refund rules and the exact passenger passport details before checkout.
Station ticket counter	Human help if an online booking or document check fails.	Allow extra time and carry the original passport used for the booking.

Check Beijing–Shanghai train times on Trip.com (affiliate link) → For the non-affiliate source of record, confirm live train availability, passenger details, fare and change conditions on China Railway’s official 12306 service before paying.

Book and board without a paper-ticket assumption

Stage	Action	Why
Book	Enter your full name and passport number exactly as shown on the physical passport.	China Railway uses real-name ticketing; mismatched identity details can stop boarding.
Before travel	Save the booking reference and check the departure station, not only the city name.	Large cities can have several railway stations far apart.
At the station	Carry the original passport. Use an automated gate if it accepts your document; otherwise use the staffed manual channel.	Official local guidance says foreign passengers may use a passport at an automatic machine or present it at manual inspection.
If something fails	Go to the ticket counter or station staff with your passport and booking details.	Do not rely on a screenshot alone as a substitute for the identity document.

Use the subway with a fallback

Situation	Practical action	Fallback
Before arriving	Bind an eligible international card to Alipay if your card issuer and account pass verification.	Carry a small cash reserve and check the city metro's own ticket options.
At the station	Open Alipay and check whether a transport function is available for that city.	Use a single-ride ticket, transport card or staffed ticket desk where offered.
Using a QR code	Read the city-specific instructions in the app before entering a gate.	Do not assume one city's transport QR code is automatically valid in another city.

Common mistakes

Mistake	Fix
Going to “Beijing station” without checking the full station name.	Match the station shown in your booking with your map route the day before travel.
Trying to board with a passport copy or a different passport.	Bring the original valid passport used for the booking.
Assuming every foreign passport must use the same gate.	Look for the staffed channel if the automated gate does not accept your document.
Assuming a foreign card works identically in every metro system.	Check the city function in Alipay and keep a local ticket fallback.

Sources checked

Source	What it supports	Checked
China Railway 12306	Official train-ticket rules and service information.	Aug. 25, 2026
Shanghai government: train boarding	Foreign passport use at automated and manual ticket inspection.	Aug. 25, 2026
Alipay international visitor guidance	International-card binding and access to ride-hailing and public-transport services.	Aug. 25, 2026