China high speed rail

[froztheart]

using mobile app or via browser?

Mobile App, and oh yes, I've got a China Number.
All verified with the same China number too, non-issue for addition of personnel for verification.

And my bad that you I just saw mentioning that it's your first time.
In that case, either Trip or when you're in China then, since 12306 requires a China Number to verify remotely.
Otherwise, still possible but only at the HSR station counter itself.

 

[koolkool]

Happened to me, dun bother wasting time. Just pay trip.com a few dollars to buy for me. Been yrs, maybe later I will try to register with 12306.

Yes, don't bother further with 12306 if it failed you a few times. I tried for months and went ahead with trip.com in the meantime. What are a few dollars against the frustration?

Thanks for your kind responses. Just an update that I tried the 3rd time (with the same photos) and I am finally verified! After this step, I add passengers with just passport images, and were also verified the first time. I tried simulating buying tickets, and can reach all the way to the Alipay page, so I think I should be able to buy when the tickets purchase is opened later part of Nov.

A few questions:
I can see the seat numbers but I don't seem to be able to select the seats I wanted. Is there an option I have missed?
Will the conductor check that the seat number has to be in accordance to the one assigned by the app?
From Allipay, there is this international card fees. Is there any way to circumvent this fee? Does trip.com also have this fees?
When I reach the station, I should look for a manual gantry to get through using our passports? Do I need to go to a ticketing office to get the tickets? I seemed to read just need to find this gantry, but some say first time go and verify the passport. So I am a little confused.
I should reach the station 30 min before the departure time?

 

[sbl2560]

Thanks for your kind responses. Just an update that I tried the 3rd time (with the same photos) and I am finally verified! After this step, I add passengers with just passport images, and were also verified the first time. I tried simulating buying tickets, and can reach all the way to the Alipay page, so I think I should be able to buy when the tickets purchase is opened later part of Nov.

A few questions:
I can see the seat numbers but I don't seem to be able to select the seats I wanted. Is there an option I have missed?
Will the conductor check that the seat number has to be in accordance to the one assigned by the app?
From Allipay, there is this international card fees. Is there any way to circumvent this fee? Does trip.com also have this fees?
When I reach the station, I should look for a manual gantry to get through using our passports? Do I need to go to a ticketing office to get the tickets? I seemed to read just need to find this gantry, but some say first time go and verify the passport. So I am a little confused.
I should reach the station 30 min before the departure time?

On 12306, seats selection are based on left row with 3 seats or right row with 2 seats for second class.

Don't use Alipay for payment, to avoid International card fees. Just use Youtrip to pay.

There isn't a need for tickets. As long as passengers are selected on the 12306 App, passport shall be used for entry via the Manual Lane gantry, visible with a staff manning.

Allow extra time, for arrival to the station as there are security checks.

 

[beanstalk6]

Thanks for your kind responses. Just an update that I tried the 3rd time (with the same photos) and I am finally verified! After this step, I add passengers with just passport images, and were also verified the first time. I tried simulating buying tickets, and can reach all the way to the Alipay page, so I think I should be able to buy when the tickets purchase is opened later part of Nov.

Good for you that you succeeded in the above.

Will the conductor check that the seat number has to be in accordance to the one assigned by the app?

Yes, the conductor will check that you are in the right seats, if the rightful passenger hasn't reminded you. Ensure that you have the permission from the affected passenger first if you want to swap seats.

When I reach the station, I should look for a manual gantry to get through using our passports? Do I need to go to a ticketing office to get the tickets? I seemed to read just need to find this gantry, but some say first time go and verify the passport. So I am a little confused.

This is at the boarding gate, after you enter the departure hall. The manual gantry allows your passports to be scanned for boarding. In most cases there is no need for physical tickets because you have them in your phone, which you are required to show, obviously. Since you have verified your passport within the app, there is no further action required. The other passengers do not require further verification.

I should reach the station 30 min before the departure time?

Yes, because every station requires that you and your luggage are scanned by security before you are allowed into the departure hall.

 

[edixian]

Thanks for your kind responses. Just an update that I tried the 3rd time (with the same photos) and I am finally verified! After this step, I add passengers with just passport images, and were also verified the first time. I tried simulating buying tickets, and can reach all the way to the Alipay page, so I think I should be able to buy when the tickets purchase is opened later part of Nov.

A few questions:
I can see the seat numbers but I don't seem to be able to select the seats I wanted. Is there an option I have missed?
Will the conductor check that the seat number has to be in accordance to the one assigned by the app?
From Allipay, there is this international card fees. Is there any way to circumvent this fee? Does trip.com also have this fees?
When I reach the station, I should look for a manual gantry to get through using our passports? Do I need to go to a ticketing office to get the tickets? I seemed to read just need to find this gantry, but some say first time go and verify the passport. So I am a little confused.
I should reach the station 30 min before the departure time?

Can i check for added passenger, do we need to verified email? I added and passport verified but it show email not verified.

 

[beanstalk6]

Can i check for added passenger, do we need to verified email? I added and passport verified but it show email not verified.

Not necessary.

 

[jtec14]

I can see the seat numbers but I don't seem to be able to select the seats I wanted. Is there an option I have missed?

Switch the app version to 标准版 in settings, the English version cannot select seats.

 

[Confession.pt3]

Is there any where I can check whether 29-32(car 07) for soft sleeper are in the same room? I booked Beijing to Harbin ticket through trip and the agent said they are not in the same room. From what i gathered, it looks like they are in the same room.

 

[beanstalk6]

Is there any where I can check whether 29-32(car 07) for soft sleeper are in the same room? I booked Beijing to Harbin ticket through trip and the agent said they are not in the same room. From what i gathered, it looks like they are in the same room.

Do you have the 12306 app? You may be able see in there. I think your berths are in the same compartment if you have the normal and not the deluxe soft sleeper which has 2 instead of 4 berths to a compartment. 29 and 31 are usually lower berths in the normal soft sleeper.

 

[Confession.pt3]

My app account is still under review unfortunately.

 

[natas]

I had problem with 12306 since they 1st launched. Today in Shanghai, I nothing to do in hotel and try to login 12306 via my laptop and "bingo", my account is verified and allowing me to purchase train ticket. After so many years of using "trip" to purchase for me.

 

[sbl2560]

I had problem with 12306 since they 1st launched. Today in Shanghai, I nothing to do in hotel and try to login 12306 via my laptop and "bingo", my account is verified and allowing me to purchase train ticket. After so many years of using "trip" to purchase for me.

Now you save a few dollars per ticket, without the booking fee from Trip.

 

[hfngshnll]

Is there any where I can check whether 29-32(car 07) for soft sleeper are in the same room? I booked Beijing to Harbin ticket through trip and the agent said they are not in the same room. From what i gathered, it looks like they are in the same room.

i did a quick look in 12306, but there is no layout info in the app. based on the timing and likely you booked a direct no stop overnight train, your train is Z17？should be similar to the Z16 (reverse direction) described in the video below (dated last year). seems like now they no longer offer the Z15/Z16.

https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/Z15/16次列车

車廂編號	1-8	9	10	11-18
車型	RW25T 軟臥車	CA25T 餐車（欠編）	RW19T 高級軟臥車	RW25T 軟臥車

i froze the video at the frame of interest to you : capacity of 36 for soft sleeper, 4 per cabin, yours should be the same cabin. RW-25T is the carriage model number which is standard carriage for housing soft sleeper cabins thru out china, with some exceptions on some route in other parts of china, not on your route. RW=软卧.

RW-19T is the carriage model number which is standard carriage for housing deluxe soft sleepers 2 per cabin. your numbers are already out of the number range.

full video below :

 

[natas]

Now you save a few dollars per ticket, without the booking fee from Trip.

Yes, can buy another few cans of beer.

 

[Confession.pt3]

i did a quick look in 12306, but there is no layout info in the app. based on the timing and likely you booked a direct no stop overnight train, your train is Z17？should be similar to the Z16 (reverse direction) described in the video below (dated last year). seems like now they no longer offer the Z15/Z16.

https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/Z15/16次列车

車廂編號	1-8	9	10	11-18
車型	RW25T 軟臥車	CA25T 餐車（欠編）	RW19T 高級軟臥車	RW25T 軟臥車

i froze the video at the frame of interest to you : capacity of 36 for soft sleeper, 4 per cabin, yours should be the same cabin. RW-25T is the carriage model number which is standard carriage for housing soft sleeper cabins thru out china, with some exceptions on some route in other parts of china, not on your route. RW=软卧.

RW-19T is the carriage model number which is standard carriage for housing deluxe soft sleepers 2 per cabin. your numbers are already out of the number range.

full video below :

Thanks a bunch..really appreciate it.

 

[cherynsq]

My china railway app 12306 has verified me . But both my other passengers are not . So if I were to use this app to purchase 3 tickets for 3 of us , what will happen ?

on the safe side. I have also submitted reservation under trip.com (which my passengers are all verified)

 

[cherynsq]

The tickets for Shanghai to Suzhou opens today at 3pm later for the date I have chosen .

so I must standby and ensure things go well but the china railway app verification says failed for my passenger

 

[hawkwind]

I have booked for fellow travelers using Trip. No need to verify other passengers. There is a small booking fee but that's fine for me.

 

[cherynsq]

updates:

I have learnt a lot from the insights here, contributed by many . I would like to do my part as well to share my experience today . I already have china rail 12306 app installed on my phone in November 2025. I am verified. But earlier on this morning , I have added 2 other passengers who are traveling me into the app. both failed verification despite I have use the app to scan their passport and also uploaded the passport photos.

at 245pm, one of the passenger profile becomes verified but not the other.

I tried to play with the app to purchase a bogus ticket to see how does it work. true enough, the app only allows 2 tickets to be issued instead of 3, as the other passenger cannot be selected .

I still have my backup on trip.com for the actual trip booking. and best of all, at 3pm when the ticket open, trip.com CANCELLED MY ORDER AND AUTO REFUNDED

PANICED, I called them and ask what's wrong. they said because china rail has INCREASE the price on that side so I have to rebook with the higher price. I went ahead to rebook and manage to secure the tickets.

conclusion: trip.com can auto cancel your ticket and refund. so make sure you check!!!

 

[beanstalk6]

conclusion: trip.com can auto cancel your ticket and refund. so make sure you check!!!

This amply shows the mechanism how trip.com can make a reservation for you before the official reservation opens.