China travel · 交通
China trains and taxis: tickets, gates, and destinations
A passport buys the ticket. A Chinese address gets you into the taxi. The lines below cover the two handoffs that go wrong most often.
Written October 20, 2026. The 12306 rules below were read from the official English FAQ on the same date.
China trains and taxis are two different language tasks. At a train station you need to buy or collect a ticket tied to your passport, find the right gate, and read the departure board. In a taxi you need to give a destination, ask for the meter, and pay. The Chinese below is grouped by those handoffs, not by grammar.
The train facts come from the 12306 English FAQ. The taxi lines are the ones a visitor uses at the curb. Neither section gives you a fare, because fares depend on the route, the city, and the train class.
Buying a train ticket with a passport
The 12306 English FAQ says foreign passengers can purchase real-name tickets with valid passports, and the English website accepts only valid foreign passports. That is the document to carry. The ticket is tied to it, so a photocopy on your phone is a backup, not a substitute.
The FAQ lists the channels: station ticket counters, automatic ticket machines, 12306.cn or the app, a ticket hotline where telephone booking is available, and commuter cards on lines that support them. The English site handles purchase, endorsement, refund, and change of destination. Sales and endorsement run from 5:00 to 1:00 the next day, and from 5:00 to 23:30 on Tuesday.
One rule catches people out: a valid ID can buy only one ticket for the same train on the same date. If you are traveling with someone, each passport needs its own ticket. If your passport shows a verification status, the FAQ says you may need to take the original passport to a ticket counter before collecting a paper ticket.
Train station lines
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | When to use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 我要买一张到北京的票。 | wǒ yào mǎi yì zhāng dào Běijīng de piào. | I want one ticket to Beijing. | At a ticket counter |
| 高铁 | gāotiě | High-speed train | When you are choosing a train type |
| 火车站 | huǒchēzhàn | Railway station | In a taxi or asking for directions |
| 出发 | chūfā | Departure | Reading a board or a ticket |
| 到达 | dàodá | Arrival | Reading a board or a ticket |
| 二等座 | èrděngzuò | Second class | Choosing a seat class |
| 一等座 | yīděngzuò | First class | Choosing a seat class |
| 几点的？ | jǐ diǎn de? | What time is it? | Asking about a departure |
| 检票口在哪里？ | jiǎnpiàokǒu zài nǎlǐ? | Where is the ticket gate? | Inside a large station |
| 我要改签。 | wǒ yào gǎiqiān. | I want to change my ticket. | At a counter, before departure |
| 我要退票。 | wǒ yào tuìpiào. | I want a refund. | At a counter or in the app |
| 这是我的护照。 | zhè shì wǒ de hùzhào. | This is my passport. | At the counter or the gate |
A station exchange
You want a high-speed ticket to Beijing. At the counter, put your passport down and say: 你好，我要买一张到北京的高铁票。 (Nǐ hǎo, wǒ yào mǎi yì zhāng dào Běijīng de gāotiě piào. Hello, I want one high-speed ticket to Beijing.) The clerk asks for the date and time. If you do not understand, say: 请说慢一点。 (Qǐng shuō màn yìdiǎn. Please speak a little slower.) Show the date on your phone.
After you pay, check the ticket for the train number, the departure time, and the gate. If you cannot find the gate, ask: 请问检票口在哪里？ (Qǐngwèn jiǎnpiàokǒu zài nǎlǐ? Excuse me, where is the ticket gate?) The answer will be a number and a direction. You do not need the whole sentence; you need the number.
Taxi lines
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | When to use it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 我要去这个地址。 | wǒ yào qù zhège dìzhǐ. | I want to go to this address. | Show the address on your phone |
| 这是酒店地址。 | zhè shì jiǔdiàn dìzhǐ. | This is the hotel address. | When the driver cannot read the screen |
| 请打表。 | qǐng dǎbiǎo. | Please use the meter. | Before the car moves |
| 到那里多少钱？ | dào nàlǐ duōshao qián? | How much to get there? | Before you get in, if there is no meter |
| 请在这里停。 | qǐng zài zhèlǐ tíng. | Please stop here. | When you reach the entrance |
| 我赶时间。 | wǒ gǎn shíjiān. | I am in a hurry. | Only if you really are |
| 可以扫码吗？ | kěyǐ sǎomǎ ma? | Can I scan the code? | At the end of the ride |
| 请给我发票。 | qǐng gěi wǒ fāpiào. | Please give me a receipt. | If you need a receipt |
A taxi exchange
You get in and show the Chinese address on your phone. Say: 你好，我要去这个地址。 (Nǐ hǎo, wǒ yào qù zhège dìzhǐ. Hello, I want to go to this address.) Then: 请打表。 (Qǐng dǎbiǎo. Please use the meter.) If the driver nods and starts, you are done. If the driver asks a question you do not understand, say: 请说慢一点。 (Qǐng shuō màn yìdiǎn. Please speak a little slower.) Show the map pin again.
At the destination, say: 请在这里停。 (Qǐng zài zhèlǐ tíng. Please stop here.) Ask the fare if it is not on the meter: 多少钱？ (Duōshao qián? How much?) Pay by QR if the driver has one, or with cash. Ask for a receipt if you need one.
If you cannot say it
Show the destination in Chinese. A map pin and a Chinese address are better than an English hotel name. If the driver cannot read the screen, call the hotel and let the front desk speak to the driver. At the station, show your passport and the ticket confirmation; the counter staff can see the booking.
Do not hand your passport to a stranger who is not behind a counter. Keep it in your own hand and show the photo page. If someone offers to "help" with your ticket for a fee, walk to the official counter or the station information desk instead.
What to prepare before the station
Put the Chinese name and address of your hotel on your phone. Save the train number and departure time as a screenshot. Carry your passport in a place you can reach without unpacking. Arrive earlier than you would at home if this is your first Chinese station; the gates and the security line are the part that takes time.
If you are paying by phone, the paying in China page has the counter lines. If you are going to a hotel next, the hotel check-in page has the front-desk phrases.
If you want the full pre-trip plan, start with China travel phrases.
Questions that still sit on the table
Can foreigners buy train tickets in China?
Yes. The 12306 English FAQ says foreign passengers can purchase real-name tickets with valid passports. The English website accepts only valid foreign passports. You can buy at a station counter, an automatic machine, 12306.cn or the app, or a ticket hotline where telephone booking is available.
Do I need a Chinese ID to buy a train ticket?
No. A valid foreign passport is the document the English 12306 site accepts. The ticket is tied to that passport, so carry the original document to the station. If your passport shows a verification status, the FAQ says you may need to take the original passport to a ticket counter before collecting a paper ticket.
What are the 12306 service hours?
The English FAQ says information query and ticket refund services are available 24 hours a day. Ticket sales and endorsement services run from 5:00 to 1:00 the next day, and from 5:00 to 23:30 on Tuesday. Check the site before a late-night purchase.
How do I tell a taxi driver where to go?
Show the address in Chinese and say 我要去这个地址 (wǒ yào qù zhège dìzhǐ), meaning I want to go to this address. Ask the driver to use the meter with 请打表 (qǐng dǎbiǎo). If you have a map pin, show it as well. A Chinese address on your phone is more reliable than an English hotel name.
Can I pay a taxi by phone?
Ask whether the driver accepts your payment method before the ride and keep a backup. Use the payment phrases below to ask about scanning a code or paying cash.
Sources
- China Railway 12306, “FAQ”, read 20 October 2026.
Version 1. Recheck when 12306 changes its ID rules or service hours, or every six months.