Trip.com 携程国际版
Book China’s trains, flights, hotels and attraction tickets in English and pay with your own card, Apple Pay or PayPal. The easy fallback when 12306 or a Chinese booking site will not work for you.
Set it up at home
- 1Install the app and create an account
Install Trip.com (publisher: Trip.com Travel Singapore) and sign up with your email address and a password. Avoid signing in with Google: Google services are blocked in China, so that login may fail once you arrive.
- 2Set language and currency
In the account settings, pick your language and the currency you want to see prices in. Your card is charged in the currency shown at checkout, so check it before you pay.
- 3Save your passport details
Add yourself and anyone you travel with as saved travelers, with document type Passport. Type surname and given names exactly as in the two code lines at the bottom of the passport photo page. Train and many attraction tickets are issued in that name.
- 4Pay with your card, Apple Pay or PayPal
Major international cards, Apple Pay and PayPal work at checkout; no Chinese bank account is needed. Your bank may ask you to approve the payment in its app. Keep your home SIM able to receive texts.
- 5Book trains early
Train tickets go on sale 15 days ahead. Trip.com lets you place an order earlier and tries to buy the ticket when sales open. Popular routes and holidays sell out fast, so pick a backup train if the app offers one.
Using it in China
There is no paper ticket. Scan your passport at the station gates, or use the staffed lane if the machine does not read it. Keep the booking screen or a screenshot with the train number, car and seat.
At hotel check-in, show your passport and the booking. For attraction tickets, read the voucher: many sights let you in with the passport used for booking, others show a QR code. Save vouchers offline before you go.
Open the booking under your trips to change or cancel. Train tickets follow railway rules: one change per ticket, and refund fees rise closer to departure; Trip.com may add its own fee. Customer service is available 24/7 in English through the in-app chat.
Problems and fixes
My card is declined at checkout
Approve the payment in your bank app, check the billing address and that online payments are on, then try once more. If it still fails, switch to Apple Pay or PayPal. Do not retry many times, or the order may be held for a security check.
I typed my name wrong on a train ticket
Train tickets are tied to the name and passport number, and the name usually cannot be edited. Contact customer service in the app right away; usually you must cancel and rebook, and a refund fee may apply. Fix the saved traveler first so it does not happen again.
My train booking is still processing or failed
Before sales open, or on busy routes, Trip.com may still be trying to get your ticket. If no seat can be found, the order fails and you should be refunded; check the booking for the status. Meanwhile, look at other trains, times or seat classes, and do not travel without a confirmed ticket.
The station gate will not read my passport
That is common with foreign passports. Go to the staffed lane at the gate and show your passport and the booking. Arrive early: ticket checks usually close a few minutes before departure.
I cannot log in after arriving in China
If you signed up with Google, that login may not work in China. Before you fly, add an email and password to your account and test logging in with them. If you are already locked out, use the password reset by email.
The price is higher than on 12306
Trip.com adds a service fee, usually a few dollars per train ticket. The ticket itself is the same. If you want to save, book on 12306 and keep Trip.com for when registration or payment there fails.
A hotel or sight has a problem with my booking
Stay at the desk and open the in-app chat from that booking; customer service can call the property for you in Chinese. Show the booking number and your passport. If the booking cannot be honored, ask support to rebook or refund before you leave.
Sources
- Trip.com: how to buy train tickets in China (trip.com)
- 12306 China Railway FAQ (English) (12306.cn)
- Trip.com on the App Store (apps.apple.com)
Checked against these sources on 2026-09-27. Rules change often, so confirm on the official site before you go.
Other apps
AlipayThe payment app most visitors rely on in China. Pay shops by QR code with your own card, ride the metro and call taxis from inside the app.
WeChatHow people in China message each other, plus Weixin Pay (WeChat Pay) and the mini-programs that restaurants, museums and sights use for ordering and booking.
DiDiChina’s main ride-hailing app. It works in English with your own phone number and card, or inside Alipay with no extra account.
AmapChina’s most detailed map for walking, metro and buses, with an English version. Since August 2026 you can also book rides in English, paid through Alipay or WeChat Pay.
Railway 12306China Railway’s official ticket app and website, in English and with no booking fee. Register with your passport; your passport is then your ticket.
TenPayGoTencent’s payment app for visitors, launched on 24 September 2026. Sign up with an email address and pay at any Weixin Pay merchant without a WeChat account. A good backup wallet.
MeituanChina’s food delivery app, also for groceries and local deals. The easiest way for visitors is the Meituan mini-program inside Alipay: no new account, your card is already linked, and it can switch to English.
DianpingWhere people in China look up restaurants: real photos, scores, rankings and the Must-Eat List. The app has an English setting; reviews stay mostly in Chinese.
RedNoteOptional. China’s favourite app for travel tips: recent photos of places, queues, food and what is worth it, posted by people who were there this week. Mostly in Chinese, with a translate button.