Booking & transport
Source checkedChina Train Ticket Refunds & Changes: Fees and Rules (2026)
Check the official 12306 refund policy: fee bands, the 30-minute grace period, ticket changes and what to do after departure.
The short answer
Refunding earlier usually costs less: at eight or more days before departure, there is no refund fee. If seats remain, a permitted ticket change may suit you better. An eligible accidental purchase can qualify for a free refund within 30 minutes.
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Step by step
What to do
- 01
Refund early for the cheapest outcome
Refund at eight or more days before departure with no refund fee. The fee is 5 percent when more than 48 hours remain, 10 percent from 24 to 48 hours, and 20 percent under 24 hours. When a refund fee applies, the minimum charge is RMB 2.
- 02
Change instead of refund when it is free
Changing more than 48 hours before departure is free. From 24 to 48 hours, a change to a train departing by 24:00 on the original travel date is also free; after departure, a same-day change is free where capacity exists.
- 03
Use the 30-minute free-refund allowance
For travel from 2 February 2026, a registered user who bought through an official 12306 channel with e-payment or reward points can make one qualifying order refund per day without a refund fee, within 30 minutes of purchase and at least 4 hours before departure.
- 04
Return to the seller for a refund or change
Use 12306 for a ticket bought through an official 12306 channel. If you used another seller, start with that seller because 12306 states that the railway does not handle ticketing problems caused on other websites.
Decide whether to cancel or change the ticket
To cancel a train booking, request a refund. To travel on another train or date, request a change. China Railway's official 12306 rules set fees for both, with higher charges as departure approaches.
The official 12306 scale governs tickets handled through China Railway's official channels. If you bought through another website, begin with that seller: 12306 states that the railway does not handle ticketing problems that occurred on other websites, and the seller may have separate terms.
Check how much time remains before departure, then compare the cost of cancelling with the cost of moving the journey.
| When you refund | Fee |
|---|---|
| 8 days or more before departure | 0%, full refund |
| More than 48 hours before departure | 5% |
| 24 to 48 hours before departure | 10% |
| Less than 24 hours before departure | 20% |
| When a refund fee applies | Minimum fee RMB 2, rounded to RMB 0.5 |
Refund fees
Refund at least eight days out and no refund service fee is charged. With more than 48 hours remaining the fee is 5 percent; from 24 to 48 hours it is 10 percent; and under 24 hours it is 20 percent. When a refund fee applies, the minimum is RMB 2 and the railway applies its published RMB 0.5 rounding rule.
The refund fee is charged on the fare and deducted from the amount returned. Many official-channel refunds can be started through the 12306 English service, but cash purchases, printed reimbursement receipts and special cases can still require a station counter.
If you endorsed the ticket or changed its destination, a later refund fee may be recalculated against the new schedule even when the original booking qualified for a fee-free refund. Check the current rule for an endorsed ticket before cancelling.
Change fees
A change moves you to a different train, date, seat or permitted arrival station without cancelling. Changing more than 48 hours before departure is free. From 24 to 48 hours, a change is also free when the new train departs by 24:00 on the original travel date; after departure, a same-day change is free where seats remain.
When changing to a train departing after the original travel date, the fee is 5 percent of the lower of the two fares if requested 24 to 48 hours before departure, or 15 percent if requested less than 24 hours before departure. After the original train has departed, changing to a next-day or later train costs 40 percent of the lower fare.
The change-fee percentage applies to the lower of the old and new fares. Under the official rules, you can change a ticket once.
| When you change | Situation | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| More than 48 hours before departure | Any change | 0% |
| 24 to 48 hours before departure | To a later train (beyond original date) | 5% of the lower fare |
| Less than 24 hours before departure | To a later train (beyond original date) | 15% of the lower fare |
| After the train has departed | To a same-day train | 0% |
| After the train has departed | To a next-day or later train | 40% of the lower fare |
The 2026 free-refund allowance
An accidental-purchase policy applies to travel starting 2 February 2026: a registered user buying through an official 12306 website, app or Alipay mini-program with e-payment or reward points may make one qualifying order refund per day without a fee, provided it is processed within 30 minutes of purchase and at least 4 hours before departure.
The accidental-purchase allowance excludes rebooked tickets, multi-ride or periodic tickets, pre-ordered or waitlisted tickets, group tickets, air-rail or waterway-rail combined tickets, and the Railway e-Pass.
If you notice an incorrect booking within half an hour, check whether it meets all the conditions above for a fee-free refund. After that window, the normal refund scale applies.
Request a refund or change through the seller
If you bought through an official 12306 channel, sign in and find the order, then use the refund or change option that remains available. If you bought elsewhere, use that seller's order page or support channel because 12306 does not take responsibility for problems caused on other websites.
Keep the passport used for booking. For a 12306 online-payment refund, the railway says the money returns to the original online payment method within the prescribed time; your bank or seller may display the credit later.
A valid ID can buy only one ticket for the same train on the same date. Resolve the existing order before trying to replace it on that same service, and check an unresolved charge before paying again.
- Refund or change in the same place you bought the ticket.
- Keep the passport used for the booking for any identity check.
- Resolve an existing order before replacing it on the same train, and check payment status before paying again.
Where the money goes
Refunds return to the original payment method. If you paid with an international card, the refund goes back to that card; you cannot select a new card or wallet. Timing depends on the issuer and platform as well as the railway.
If you used another website, its own order terms and support process control how it presents any railway refund and any separate platform charge. Confirm those terms with the seller rather than treating them as part of the official 12306 fee scale.
Change fees use the lower of the old and new fares. Refund fees use the fare you paid and are deducted from the amount returned.
Keep the refund or change confirmation and amount until the credit appears. If the amount or status does not match, contact the channel that sold the ticket first, then the card issuer if that channel confirms the refund was sent.
- A refund returns to the original payment method, not a new one.
- Another seller may apply separate terms that are not part of the 12306 scale.
- A change fee is charged on the lower of the old and new fares.
If you miss the train or book the wrong date
Missed the train: ask immediately for a same-day change, which is free where a qualifying train has capacity. Ordinary refunds are generally unavailable after departure; the 12306 FAQ says a station chief may approve a refund within two hours only in special cases.
If you booked the wrong date, check whether you qualify for a free refund within 30 minutes. Otherwise, the normal fee depends on the time remaining until the departure you booked. Correct it promptly.
If your plans change far ahead, refund at eight or more days before departure for a full refund, then rebook once you know the new date. This avoids the normal refund service fee.
Act before the next fee threshold where possible. Waiting until closer to departure can increase the charge.
- Missed train: try a free same-day change before a paid refund.
- Wrong date: use the 30-minute free refund if it qualifies, otherwise fix it immediately.
- Far-out change: refund at 8+ days for a full refund, then rebook.
Continue the setup
Tasks connected to this guide
When Plan A fails
Fallbacks and safety checks
- If you missed the train, ask for a same-day change immediately; ordinary refunds are generally unavailable after departure, although the station chief may approve a refund within two hours in special cases.
- If you bought the wrong date, use the 30-minute free refund if it qualifies, otherwise fix it immediately.
- If you bought outside 12306, read that seller's own cancellation terms and contact its support for platform-specific charges.
- A valid ID can buy only one ticket for the same train on the same travel date, so resolve that ticket before trying to replace it on the same service.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to refund a China train ticket?
The official 12306 scale is free at eight or more days before departure, 5 percent more than 48 hours before, 10 percent from 24 to 48 hours, and 20 percent under 24 hours. When a refund fee applies, the minimum is RMB 2 and the published RMB 0.5 rounding rule applies.
Is changing a train ticket free?
Changing more than 48 hours before departure is free, and changing to a same-day train after the original train has departed is free where capacity exists. Changing to a train departing after the original travel date carries a fee based on the lower fare: 5 percent when requested 24 to 48 hours before departure, 15 percent when requested less than 24 hours before departure, or 40 percent after departure.
What is the 2026 free-refund allowance?
For travel from 2 February 2026, a registered user buying through an official 12306 channel with e-payment or reward points may refund one qualifying order per day without a fee, within 30 minutes of purchase and at least 4 hours before departure. The official FAQ lists several excluded ticket types.
Can I change a train ticket more than once?
The official rules allow a ticket to be changed once, subject to capacity and the change conditions. Read the current rule before assuming a second change is possible.
Where do I refund a ticket bought from another website?
Start in that seller's order page or support channel. China Railway states that it does not handle ticketing problems that occurred on other websites, so platform fees and processing times must be confirmed with the seller.
What should I do if I booked a duplicate ticket by mistake?
12306 allows one valid ID to buy only one ticket for the same train on the same travel date. Resolve the existing order before trying to replace it on that same train; for a different train, follow the order prompts and avoid paying twice for an unresolved purchase.
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