PayFixChina

Train tickets: three places to pay, three different checks.

Updated 2026-10-26 4 ways to pay ~4 min Cash backup included

Can you pay here?

Sometimes. 12306 accepts some foreign cards, ticket machines often do not, and staffed counters are the best backup. Cash works at counters.

Try these in order

Start with the method the staff expect, then fall back to cash.

  1. 12306 app or website

    Pay online with an international card if it is accepted.

    Works for some cards. Verification checks apply.

  2. Staffed ticket counter

    Show your passport and pay at the window.

    Most reliable. Accepts cash and some cards.

  3. Ticket machine

    Use the English screen and scan your passport.

    Often card-only with a mainland card. Cash is rare.

  4. Travel app or agency

    Book through an international platform before you travel.

    Works, with a service fee.

What to say

Show the Chinese line to staff. The pinyin is for you.

English 中文
I want a ticket to Beijing. 我要一张到北京的票。 Wǒ yào yì zhāng dào Běijīng de piào.
Can I pay with cash? 可以付现金吗？ Kěyǐ fù xiànjīn ma?
Can I pay with this card? 可以用这张卡吗？ Kěyǐ yòng zhè zhāng kǎ ma?
Which platform? 在几号站台？ Zài jǐ hào zhàntái?

If payment fails here

Each error page gives three steps and a fallback for this situation.

Payment failed

Didi, Trains and Attractions: Paying with a Foreign Card

Exceeds the single transaction limit

Alipay Transaction Limit for Foreign Cards: Why It Fails

Verification failed

Alipay Passport Verification Failed? 5 Things to Fix First

Service fee

Alipay 3% Fee Explained: When Foreign Cards Cost More

Payment failed

12306 Payment Failed with a Foreign Card? What Works

Transaction cancelled

ATM Withdrawal Failed in China? Fixes Before You Retry

Backup options

Get out of the queue first. Solve the payment later.

  • Buy at the staffed counter with cash

    Counters accept RMB and can print a paper ticket.

  • Book on an international travel site

    Pay in your own currency before you arrive.

  • Travel on a slower train

    Slower trains often have more seats left on short notice.

Still stuck at the counter? A 15-minute screen share usually finds the failing step. See how remote help works →

Independent guide. Not affiliated with Alipay, WeChat Pay, or any card network. Rules checked 2026-10-26 (version 2026-10). Staff may ask for a different method. Tell us what happened.