China Travel Decisions · China Rail
How Do I Refund or Change a Booked China Rail Ticket?
Refunds and changes follow different clocks, and where you bought the ticket decides where you can act.
Quick answer: You can change a ticket once and refund it before the train's scheduled departure. Changes are free more than 48 hours before departure; refunds are free 8 or more days before departure, then cost 5%, 10% or 20% as departure approaches. Tickets bought with cash or already printed for reimbursement must be handled at a station ticket window.
Which situation applies to you?
Choose your situation
Changes can only be made at a station ticket window. Bring the valid ID used for booking and the order number; if someone else goes, they need their own ID plus yours.
I want to cancel and bought online with electronic paymentRefund on the 12306 website or at a station window before the scheduled departure. Refund fee is 0% at 8 or more days out, 5% at 48 hours or more, 10% at 24–48 hours, and 20% under 24 hours; minimum fee 2 yuan.
I paid cash or printed a reimbursement receipt and want a refundYou can start the refund on the 12306 website, but within 180 days of the successful online refund you must go to a designated station window with the passenger's valid ID to collect the money. Otherwise handle the refund at a station ticket window.
The train has already leftA refund is not available after the train departs from the ticket's origin station. You may still change once, before 24:00 on the same day, to another train that day for free, or to a later date for a fee of 40% of the lower of the old and new fares.
I want to change the arrival stationA destination change must be made more than 48 hours before departure. If luggage was checked on the original ticket, the luggage change or cancellation must also be handled.
Other conditions to know
- I bought with electronic payment using my 12306 booking ID and have not printed a reimbursement receipt: You can change once on the 12306 website, at a station ticket window, or at a self-service machine with a change function. More than 48 hours before departure the change is free within the presale period; under 48 hours you can freely move to a train on or before the ticket's travel date, but moving to a later date incurs a change fee.
- I already changed this ticket once: A ticket can be changed only once. After a change you may still refund under the refund rules, but a ticket changed after departure cannot be refunded.
Change vs refund at a glance
| Action | Deadline | Fee | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Change to any train in presale period | More than 48 hours before departure | Free | 12306, station window, or self-service machine |
| Change to a train on or before the ticket date | Under 48 hours before departure | Free | 12306, station window, or self-service machine |
| Change to a later date | Under 48 hours before departure | 5% (24–48h) or 15% (under 24h) of the lower fare | 12306, station window, or self-service machine |
| Change after departure | Before 24:00 same day | Free to same-day train; 40% to next day or later | Station window |
| Refund | 8 or more days before departure | Free | 12306 or station window |
| Refund | 48 hours to under 8 days | 5% | 12306 or station window |
| Refund | 24–48 hours | 10% | 12306 or station window |
| Refund | Under 24 hours | 20% | 12306 or station window |
What to do
- Decide whether you want a different train (change) or your money back (refund).
- Check the time remaining before the scheduled departure from the ticket's origin station.
- If changing: open 12306 or go to a station window, select the new date, train, seat class or arrival station, and confirm. You may do this only once.
- If refunding: open 12306 or go to a station window and submit the refund before departure.
- If you paid cash or printed a reimbursement receipt, go to a station ticket window with the booking ID and order number; for an online-started refund, collect the money at a designated window within 180 days.
Before you commit
- Confirm the exact scheduled departure time at the ticket's origin station, not your arrival at the station.
- Check whether you already used your one change.
- Check whether you paid cash or printed a reimbursement receipt, which forces a station-window step.
- For a destination change, confirm you are more than 48 hours before departure.
- If luggage was checked, confirm the luggage change or cancellation is handled.
Have these ready
- The valid ID document used for booking
- The order number
- The printed reimbursement receipt, if one was issued
Next action
12306 website or app, or a station ticket window
How to confirm it worked
12306 or the station window shows the new ticket issued, or the refund accepted with the fee shown; for a cash or printed-receipt refund started online, the money is collected at the designated window within 180 days.
If this does not work
If the online route is unavailable, go to a station ticket window with the valid ID used for booking and the order number. If you cannot reach a window before departure, the refund option closes at departure; a same-day change after departure is the remaining route.
Ask station staff about a change or refund
您好，我想改签/退票。这是我的护照和订单号。请问最近可以改签的车次有哪些？退票要收多少手续费？
Hello, I want to change/refund my ticket. Here is my passport and order number. Which trains can I change to, and what is the refund fee?
Other questions
Can I change my ticket more than once?
No. 12306 states a ticket can be changed only once. After that you may still refund it under the refund rules, except a ticket changed after departure cannot be refunded.
Can I change the passenger name or ID on my ticket?
The 12306 change rules cover travel date, time, train number, seat, seat class and arrival station. A name or ID error is not a change; handle it as a separate ticket-correction issue.
Is the refund instant?
12306 sends the refund instruction to the bank in real time, but whether it reaches your account immediately depends on your card issuer. Ask your bank.
Official sources
Last checked 28 October 2026.
Decision boundary: China Railway applies these rules and decides whether a change or refund is granted. This page does not override the railway's decision.
Rules, prices, operating routes and platform support can change. CTD is an independent travel resource. Recheck the linked official channel before paying or relying on a reservation.