Foreigners’ Guide to Picking Up Train Tickets in China: Kiosk/Window Steps + Passport Tips

Foreign friends always rave about China’s high-speed train magic—zooming from Beijing to Shanghai in 4.5 hours, gliding past Guilin’s karst mountains—but as a Chinese local, I know a hidden stressor: picking up train tickets after booking.

I’ve seen it everywhere—someone books a ticket to Xi’an (for the Terracotta Army) or Chengdu (for pandas) on 12306 or Trip.com, shows up at the station, and hits a wall: the kiosk won’t read their passport, or they can’t find the right window. Last month, my friend from Canada panicked at Beijing South Station—he had 20 minutes to catch his train to Shanghai, but the kiosk kept rejecting his passport. That’s why I made this guide: to walk you through every step of picking up tickets anywhere in China (kiosks and windows), plus the new “no-ticket” option for modern passports. No more missed trains—this is how I help my friends travel smoothly across China. (Foreigners’ China train ticket pickup guide)

Picking Up Train Tickets in China

1. What You Need to Bring (Don’t Forget These Anywhere!) – Foreigners’ China train ticket pickup guide

Before you head to any train station in China, double-check these items. Forgetting one means you can’t get your ticket (or scan in) —no exceptions, whether you’re in Beijing or Guangzhou.

1.1 Required Documents

• Passport: The same original passport you used to book the ticket (copies or photos won’t work!). For new passports, this is all you need to scan in—no paper ticket required.

• Booking Number: The 9-digit number from your 12306/Trip.com confirmation (sent to your email/SMS). Write it down or save a screenshot—you’ll need it if kiosks glitch or scans fail.

• Visa/Residence Permit: Some staff may ask to see your Chinese visa (or residence permit) to confirm you’re legally in the country. Keep it in your passport sleeve for quick access.

1.2 My “Never Forget” Trick for Cross-China Trips

I tell all my foreign friends to use a small, clear zippered pouch for their passport, booking number, and visa. Last Spring Festival, my Brazilian friend used this trick while traveling from Chongqing to Xi’an—he pulled the pouch out in 2 seconds at the scan gate, no digging through backpacks.

• Avoid This: Don’t store your passport with metal items (keys, laptop chargers)—metal interferes with scanners, even for new passports. My Australian friend made this mistake at Shanghai Hongqiao Station, and his passport scan failed.

2. New Option: Scan Your Modern Passport (No Paper Ticket Needed!) – Foreigners’ China train ticket pickup guide

If you have a new-generation passport (with an electronic chip, most passports issued after 2010 qualify), you can skip picking up a paper ticket entirely. Just scan your passport to enter the station and board the train—like how Chinese locals use ID cards. But you need to do one key step first: verify your passport on 12306.

2.1 Step 1: Verify Your Passport on 12306 (Must Do This First!)

1. Open 12306 App: Make sure you’re logged into your account (the same one used to book tickets).

2. Go to “Me”: Tap the “Me” icon (bottom right corner) and select “ID Verification.”

3. Select “Foreign Passport”: Choose this option, then upload a clear photo of your passport’s info page (follow the app’s guide—no glare!).

4. Complete the Selfie Check: Take a selfie holding your passport (so the app confirms it’s really you), then submit.

5. Wait for Approval: Verification usually takes 1–2 hours (sometimes 5 minutes!). You’ll get a text/email when it’s done.

6. Pro Tip: Do this 1 week before your trip. Last month, my friend from France forgot to verify his passport—he had to rush to the window to get a paper ticket, almost missing his train to Chengdu.

2.2 Step 2: Scan Your Passport to Enter the Station

1. Find the “Passport Scan Gate”: Look for gates with a “Foreign Passport” sign (they have a larger scanner for passports, not just ID cards). Most stations have 2–3 of these near the main entrance.

2. Scan Your Passport: Open your passport to the info page, place it face-down on the scanner (follow the on-screen arrows—scanners are usually at waist height).

3. Walk Through: Once the gate beeps (and shows a green light), walk through. If it beeps red, try adjusting your passport (make sure it’s flat, no shadows).

4. Personal Story: My Canadian friend used this at Beijing South Station last week. He scanned his passport, walked through the gate in 2 seconds, and said, “This is way easier than picking up a ticket!”

2.3 Step 3: Scan Again to Board the Train

• Train Carriage Scan: When boarding, the train staff will have a handheld scanner (or there’s a small scanner at the carriage door). Show them your passport’s info page—they’ll scan it to confirm your ticket.

• What to Do If Scan Fails: If the handheld scanner doesn’t work, show the staff your booking confirmation email. They’ll check your name against the passenger list and let you board.

3. How to Pick Up Tickets at Self-Service Kiosks (Any Chinese Station) – Foreigners’ China train ticket pickup guide

If you have an older passport (no electronic chip) or prefer a paper ticket, kiosks are the fastest option (5 minutes max!) in every major station—from Shenzhen North to Chengdu East. Here’s how to use them.

3.1 Step-by-Step Kiosk Operation (Nationwide)

1. Find the Right Kiosk: Look for kiosks with a “Foreign Passport” sticker or sign (they have a passport scanner, not just a Chinese ID card reader). Most big stations have 3–5 of these near the main entrance or ticket hall.

2. Select Language: Tap “English” on the screen (usually top right or bottom left—all modern kiosks have this option).

3. Scan Your Passport: Open to the info page, place it face-down on the scanner (follow the on-screen diagram—scanners are usually on the right or front of the kiosk).

4. Enter Booking Number (If Needed): If the scanner reads your passport, your booking will pop up. If not, tap “Enter Booking Number” and type the 9-digit code—double-check for typos (e.g., “O” vs “0”).

5. Print Tickets: Select the tickets you want, tap “Confirm,” and grab them fast—they only stay in the machine for 10 seconds before retracting.

3.2 Common Kiosk Problems & Fixes (All Stations)

• Scanner Won’t Read Passport: Wipe the info page with a clean tissue (smudges or watermarks block scans). If that fails, try a different kiosk—older machines at smaller stations (like Lijiang Railway Station) sometimes work better than new ones.

• Booking Not Showing Up: Confirm you used the same passport to book and scan. If yes, check if your ticket is for a “different station” (e.g., Beijing West vs Beijing South)—mix-ups happen!

• Personal Story: My French friend’s passport wouldn’t scan at Guangzhou South Station. He tried three kiosks before finding one that worked—turns out the first two had broken scanners. Don’t give up after one try!

3.3 Kiosk Tips for Top Tourist Stations

• Beijing South Station: Passport kiosks are near Gate 1 and Gate 10—follow the blue “Foreign Passport Service” signs.

• Shanghai Hongqiao Station: Head to the 1F ticket hall—kiosks with passport scanners are in the left corner, next to the information desk.

• Chengdu East Station: Look for kiosks marked “International Passenger” near the east entrance (Gate 2).

• Pro Tip: Arrive 1–1.5 hours before your train departs. Kiosk lines get long during holidays (Chunyun, National Day)—even in smaller stations like Guilin North.

4. How to Pick Up Tickets at Ticket Windows (Any Chinese Station) – Foreigners’ China train ticket pickup guide

If kiosks fail or you have an older passport, windows are your backup. Staff at every major station speak basic English, and they’re used to helping foreign travelers.

4.1 Step-by-Step Window Operation (Nationwide)

1. Find the “Foreign Passport” Window: Look for signs that say “Foreigner Service,” “Passport Only,” or have an English label—avoid regular windows (they only accept Chinese ID cards). In smaller stations (e.g., Dali Railway Station), ask staff: “Where can I pick up a ticket with my passport?”

2. Wait in Line: Lines are usually short (5–10 minutes) at foreigner windows. Have your documents ready while you wait to speed things up.

3. Make Your Request Clear: Say simply, “I need to pick up my train ticket. Here’s my passport and booking number.” Staff understand phrases like this—no need for complex sentences.

4. Check Your Ticket: Before leaving, verify your name, train number, date, and seat—mistakes are rare, but they happen (e.g., a typo in your last name).

4.2 What to Do If Staff Can’t Find Your Booking

• Show the Confirmation Email: Pull up the email on your phone (with train details and booking number). Staff can manually search for your ticket using this info—super helpful at stations with slow systems (like Kunming South Station).

• Call the Booking Platform: For Trip.com or Fliggy bookings, use the English customer service number in your confirmation email. Staff can resolve the issue while you’re at the window—my Canadian friend did this at Hangzhou East Station, and it worked in 5 minutes.

• Personal Touch: My Italian friend’s booking vanished at Xi’an North Station. He showed the window staff his 12306 confirmation screenshot, and they found it by searching his passport number—always save digital copies!

4.3 Window Tips for Smooth Service (Nationwide)

• Bring Small Cash (Just in Case): Rarely, third-party bookings (like Trip.com) may require a ¥5–¥10 service fee at the window. I’ve only seen this at smaller stations (e.g., Zhangjiajie West Station), but ¥20 cash covers it.

• Be Patient with Smaller Stations: Staff at rural stations (like Lijiang Railway Station) may take a little longer—they handle fewer foreign passengers, but they’re eager to help. Speak slowly, and smile—kindness goes a long way!

5. Picking Up Tickets for Group Trips (Cross-China Travel) – Foreigners’ China train ticket pickup guide

If you’re traveling with friends or family (2+ people) to spots like the Three Gorges or Zhangjiajie, these tips will save you time.

5.1 For 12306 Group Bookings (Nationwide)

• One Person Can Pick Up All Tickets: Bring every group member’s original passport and the shared booking number. Kiosks or windows can print all tickets at once—no need for everyone to be there.

• For Modern Passports: If everyone in the group has a verified modern passport, each person just scans their own passport to enter—no need to pick up any tickets. Perfect for big groups!

• Pro Tip: Assign one “group leader” to hold all booking confirmations. Last summer, I helped a group of 4 from the US travel from Chongqing to Guilin—they all used passport scans, and we were through the gate in 5 minutes.

5.2 For Trip.com/Fliggy Group Bookings

• Use the “Group Code”: These platforms send a unique group code in the confirmation email. Give this to the window staff—they can pull up all tickets without scanning each passport. This is a lifesaver at busy stations like Shanghai Hongqiao.

• Avoid This: Don’t split up to pick up tickets. My friend’s group tried this at Beijing West Station—one person’s ticket got lost, and they missed their train to Xi’an. Do it all together!

5.3 Luggage Tips for Any Station

• Use Station Luggage Storage: Every major station has paid storage (¥10–¥30 per bag, depending on size) near the entrance. Store big suitcases before scanning in or picking up tickets—juggling luggage and passports at gates is a disaster.

• Personal Story: My UK friend brought a 28-inch suitcase to Chengdu East Station. He struggled to scan his passport while holding it, spilled his water, and almost missed his train to Leshan. Store first, then scan—trust me!

Final Recommendation: My Go-To Guide for China Train Travel

I spent 2 months helping put together DolphinUnion’s China Travel Guide—even I use it when my foreign friends travel cross-country, because it has details I can’t fit here. The guide includes photos of passport scan gates at 10+ top stations (Beijing South, Shanghai Hongqiao, etc.), a list of English-speaking station hotlines (for emergency help at 2 AM!), and a checklist to confirm if your passport is “scan-ready”—three exclusive tips you won’t find in this blog.

Last week, a Canadian reader messaged me. He was traveling from Shanghai to Guilin with a new passport and was nervous about scanning in. After following my 12306 verification steps, he scanned his passport at the gate and boarded in 2 minutes. He said, “I didn’t even touch a kiosk—this was so easy!” He even sent me a photo of the Guilin karst views from his train window.

If you don’t want to stress about tickets or scans on your China trip, or worry about missing trains to iconic spots (Terracotta Army, pandas, Three Gorges), grab our DolphinUnion guide. It’s like having a local friend with you everywhere—no more confusion, no more delays. You’ll travel smoothly, focus on enjoying the journey, and make memories that last a lifetime.