Your Name Is Too Long for China Train Tickets? Here’s the 30-Character Fix That Actually Works （Booking for Foreign Travelers）
- cometodolphinunion
- Dec 17, 2025
- 3 min read
What If Your Full Name Has More Than 30 Characters?
China’s train booking systems—both 12306 (China Railway’s official platform) and Trip.com—only allow 30 characters for passenger names, including spaces.
That’s no problem for most Chinese names (usually 2–4 characters). But if your passport says “Christopher William Alexander de la Fuente”? You’ll hit an error before you even pick a seat.
Last winter, Camila from Brazil couldn’t book her Beijing-to-Xi’an high-speed train. Her full name was 38 characters long. The system rejected it every time. Her departure was in 48 hours—and she was stuck.
After helping hundreds of foreign travelers over 8 years, I can tell you this:You don’t need your full name on the ticket.And yes—it works at station security. Here’s exactly how.
H2: The 30-Character Rule: What China Railway Actually Allows
All Chinese train platforms limit names to 30 characters because domestic ID cards use very short names. The system wasn’t built for multi-part Western, Arabic, or South Asian names.
But here’s the key: China Railway confirmed (via their English service line) that as long as:
Your passport number is 100% correct, and
Your entered name matches the start of your passport name in order,
—you’ll be allowed to board.
Take Sven from Sweden in 2024. His passport read:“Sven Erik Albrecht Gustafsson” (36 characters).He entered only “Sven Erik Albrecht Gus” (30 chars) when booking.At Harbin Station (Hā’ěrbīn Zhàn / 哈尔滨站), staff scanned his passport—and let him through without question.
✅ Golden rule: Enter your name exactly as it appears on your passport, left to right, up to 30 characters. Never rearrange, abbreviate, or add dots. (China train ticket booking for foreign travelers with long names)
H2: 12306 vs Trip.com: Which Is Better for Long Names?
Register with any email address,
Pay with Alipay (no Chinese bank needed),
And book tickets directly.
BUT—there’s a catch: 12306 requires video identity verification.You must record a short video holding your passport. Approval takes 1–3 days, and many foreigners fail due to lighting, internet issues, or unclear instructions.
Trip.com, on the other hand:
Uses a simple English interface,
Accepts Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay,
Requires no video, no waiting,
But charges a small service fee (¥10–30 per ticket).
I tested both with a 34-character name:→ 12306 got stuck at verification.→ Trip.com issued a valid e-ticket in under 5 minutes.
👉 So which should you choose?
Use 12306 only if you’re booking over a week ahead and don’t mind the video hassle (saves ¥10–30).
Use Trip.com if you want speed, simplicity, and zero stress—especially last-minute.
H2: Real Proof: Do They Really Let You Board With a Truncated Name? (China train ticket booking for foreign travelers with long names)
Yes—every single time.
Chinese railway staff check three things:
Your face,
Your passport number,
Whether your ticket name starts like your passport.
They don’t compare full names.
In 2024, Priya from Malaysia traveled from Chengdu to Chongqing. Her full name was 33 characters. She entered only the first 30: “Priya Anjali Devi Ramanat”.At Chongqing North Station (Chóngqìng Běi Zhàn / 重庆北站), the officer glanced at her passport, nodded, and waved her through.
DolphinUnion travelers have used this method on routes like:
Beijing → Harbin Ice and Snow World (perfect for winter trips)
Guangzhou → Guilin’s karst mountains
Xi’an → Chengdu (ideal before a Chengdu food tour)
Just remember: Your passport number is your real ID. The name just needs to begin correctly.
Final Tip: Don’t Let a Few Extra Letters Ruin Your Trip
A long name shouldn’t stop you from riding China’s world-class high-speed rail—fast, punctual, and scenic.
Whether you choose 12306 or Trip.com, enter the first 30 characters of your passport name + your exact passport number, and you’ll be fine.
Planning a multi-city trip? Grab DolphinUnion’s free “China Rail Survival Kit”:
Auto-truncating name template (paste your passport name → get your 30-char version),
Station maps with pinyin + English labels,
Offline QR ticket guide (works even with poor signal in places like Zhangjiajie or Lijiang).
Your journey through China starts with one click—not 31 characters.
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