Written by Ruqin · September 9, 2026
Usually, no. If you bought a railway e-ticket, you normally board with the original passport used for booking. However, foreign passport holders should generally use the staffed manual channel rather than assume the automatic gate will read their passport.
Keep your booking details on your phone. They help you find the right station, waiting area, gate, carriage, and seat, but they are not a substitute for your passport.
China Mainly Uses Railway E-Tickets
China Railway now uses e-tickets on most major routes, including high-speed trains.
When you buy an e-ticket through the official 12306 platform, a railway station, or a reliable booking service, the reservation is connected to your identity document. For most international visitors, that document is a passport.
You do not usually need to exchange the booking confirmation for a traditional paper ticket. China Railway’s official English FAQ states that passengers with e-tickets should use the valid identity document provided when purchasing the ticket.
Bring the Exact Passport Used for Booking
Carry the original passport whose number appears in the reservation.
A photograph, photocopy, or digital scan is not a reliable replacement. Railway staff need to compare your identity with the passenger information stored in the ticketing system.
Before paying, check these details carefully:
- Full name
- Passport number
- Nationality
- Date of birth, if requested
- Passport expiration date
If your booking contains the wrong passport number or a badly entered name, correct it before travel. Do not wait until boarding begins.
If you renew or replace your passport after booking, contact 12306 or the booking platform. Ask whether the ticket must be changed or rebooked.
Should Foreign Travelers Scan Their Passports at the Gate?
Do not depend on the automatic gate.
China Railway’s current Chinese-language guidance lists several machine-readable documents that can be used at automatic gates. These include Chinese identity cards, foreign permanent residence identity cards, and certain documents for Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan residents.
A staffed manual channel (Beijing South Railway Station)
An ordinary foreign passport is handled differently. China Railway directs passengers using other accepted documents to complete identity checks and ticket inspection through a staffed manual channel.
Some stations or individual gates may be able to read newer foreign passports. Procedures can also differ between stations. However, the safest approach is simple: look for the manual lane or show your passport to a railway employee.
Useful signs include:
- 人工通道 — Manual Channel
- 人工检票 — Manual Ticket Check
- 实名制验证 — Real-Name Identity Verification
At large stations, staff usually stand beside the gates. Show your passport and booking information if necessary.
What Happens at the Railway Station?
You may need your passport several times.
Entering the station
At many major stations, passengers first pass through a real-name identity check. Use the staffed channel if the automatic reader does not accept your passport.
Security screening
Next, place your bags on the X-ray belt and walk through the security checkpoint. Keep your passport accessible rather than packing it deep inside your luggage.
Foreign visitors resting in the waiting area at Beijing South Railway Station
Boarding the train
Find the gate shown on the departure screen or in your 12306 booking. When boarding begins, join the manual-check line and present your passport.
Leaving the arrival station
Some stations check passengers again at the exit. If the automatic gate does not open, use the manual channel.
Keep a Screenshot of Your Journey Details
Your passport proves that you hold the e-ticket, but it does not clearly show you where to go.
Save a screenshot containing:
- Train number
- Departure date and time
- Departure station
- Arrival station
- Waiting area or boarding gate, when available
- Carriage number
- Seat or berth number
This is especially important when using a third-party booking platform. Mobile data may be weak, the app may log you out, or an overseas service may not load properly inside the station.
Be careful with station names. Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, Guangzhou, and many other cities have several railway stations. “Beijing Station” and “Beijing South Station,” for example, are not the same place.
Is an Itinerary Sheet a Train Ticket?
No. An itinerary sheet is a reference document showing your journey details.
China Railway states that neither an itinerary sheet nor a reimbursement receipt can be used as a ticket. You still need the original identity document connected to your booking.
You may download or print an itinerary sheet if you prefer having the details on paper. It can be helpful when asking staff for directions, but it does not replace your passport.
What Is a Railway Reimbursement Receipt?
A railway reimbursement receipt is mainly used as proof of payment for accounting or business expenses. It is not required for boarding.
Most holiday travelers do not need one. If you require a receipt, check the current collection procedure on 12306 or ask at a station service counter.
Do not confuse the reimbursement receipt with the old-style paper ticket. Once a receipt has been issued, it can also affect how certain ticket changes or refunds must be processed.
Are There Any Exceptions?
China Railway says that both e-tickets and paper tickets remain in use. Therefore, read the instructions attached to your particular booking.
You may need help at a ticket counter when:
- The booking specifically says ticket collection is required
- Your passport details cannot be verified
- You bought a paper ticket rather than an e-ticket
- You need to change or refund a ticket bought with cash
- You have already collected a reimbursement receipt
- Your passport has been lost, replaced, or damaged
- You are traveling on a route with different ticketing arrangements
Cross-border services, tourist trains, and smaller or unusual routes may follow additional procedures. Check the booking details instead of assuming every train works in exactly the same way.
A Common Mistake to Avoid
Do not stand in a long ticket-counter queue simply because other passengers are collecting documents.
First, check whether you already have a confirmed e-ticket. If you do, and your passport details are correct, you will usually go directly to identity verification, security, and the waiting area.
At the same time, do not arrive at the boarding gate with only a booking screenshot. Your original passport is the essential document.
Ruqin’s Practical Tip
Save a screenshot of your train number, station, gate, carriage, and seat. At the station, keep your original passport in your hand and use the staffed manual channel if the automatic gate does not accept it.
Related China Travel Guides
- How to Buy Train Tickets in China Online as a Foreigner
- What to Do If You Miss Your Train in China
- How Early Should I Arrive at a Chinese Railway Station?
- How to Travel by Train in China
- Public Transport in China: A Foreigner’s Guide
- Beijing to Xi’an High-Speed Train: Tickets, Tips & What to Know
