Before you start: use the official rules

Plans change. A meeting moves, a flight is delayed, or Golden Week crowds make you rethink a day trip. Mainland China’s railway lets you refund (退票) or change (改签) most tickets, but it charges fees on a sliding scale based on how close you are to departure.

Everything below comes from China Railway’s official 12306 help pages (the “常见问题” FAQ sections on refunds at ticket windows, online refunds, ticket changes and online booking), as published on 12306.cn on 7 October 2026. Railway rules are revised from time to time, and special arrangements can apply during peak seasons such as the Spring Festival rush. Before you act, re-check the refund and change terms shown in the 12306 app or website for your specific order. If you are new to 12306, start with our guide to booking mainland trains on 12306.

Where you can refund or change a ticket

According to 12306, refunds and changes can be made:

• On 12306 (the 12306.cn website or the official Railway 12306 app), for tickets bought on 12306 with the ID used on your account and paid electronically. Foreign passports are accepted ID on 12306.
• At a station ticket window, for tickets bought with any valid ID. Some large stations have windows labelled for refunds and changes (退票 / 改签), and some have counters for foreign or international passengers, as in the cover photo. Bring the original passport you used to buy the ticket.
• At ticket machines that support refunds or changes, by following the on-screen steps.

There are also some limits. If you paid in cash, or you have already printed the reimbursement voucher (报销凭证), changes can only be made at a station window. For refunds of those tickets you can start online, then collect the money at a station window within 180 days.

Opening hours

12306 says its website offers information queries and refunds around the clock. Ticket sales and changes run from 05:00 to 01:00 the next morning, except Tuesdays, when they close at 24:00. If you need to change a ticket late at night, check the clock first.

Refund fees: the official scale

12306 sets the refund fee as a percentage of the ticket price, based on how long before the scheduled departure from your boarding station you refund:

• 8 days or more before departure: no fee
• 48 hours or more (but less than 8 days) before departure: 5%
• 24 hours or more (but less than 48 hours): 10%
• Less than 24 hours: 20%

The fee is rounded to the nearest 0.5 yuan, using 12306’s rounding rule, and the minimum fee is 2 yuan.

As a simple illustration, for a ticket with a face value of 100 yuan refunded 30 hours before departure, 10% gives a 10-yuan fee and a 90-yuan refund. Check the exact amount 12306 shows before you confirm.

There is also an anti-abuse rule. If your ticket was less than 8 days from departure and you change it to a train more than 8 days away, then refund it while it is still 8 or more days away, you pay 5% rather than nothing.

When you can’t get a refund

12306 lists cases where no refund is given, including:

• After the train has left your boarding station
• Tickets that were changed after departure
• Extra charges paid on board and certain tickets bought on the train

So if you think you might miss a train, refund or change it before departure time.

How the money comes back

Refunds go back to the original payment method, such as the bank card, Alipay or WeChat Pay you used. 12306 says it passes refund information to banks in real time, but when the money arrives depends on your bank or payment provider. If you paid by foreign card through a wallet, allow extra time before chasing it.

Changing a ticket (改签): the one-change rule

A change (改签) lets you move to a different date, time, train, seat or class, and in some cases a different destination. 12306’s key rules are:

• One change per ticket. You can change a ticket only once. A changed ticket can still be refunded later under the normal fees, unless you changed it after departure.
• Seats must be available. A change depends on spare capacity. Check that the train you want has tickets before you count on it.
• More than 48 hours before departure: free change to any train within the pre-sale period.
• Less than 48 hours before departure: free change to a train on or before your original travel date. Changing to a later date costs a change fee (see below).
• After departure, until 24:00 that day: free change to another train the same day. Changing to a later date at that point costs a higher fee.
• Changing your destination (变更到站): must be done at least 48 hours before departure.

Change fees (改签费)

Under 12306’s tiered rules, the fee is charged on the lower of the old and new ticket prices:

• No fee: more than 48 hours before departure; changes to trains on or before your ticket date within 48 hours; and same-day changes after departure.
• 5%: 24 to 48 hours before departure, moving to a later date.
• 15%: less than 24 hours before departure, moving to a later date.
• 40%: after departure (before 24:00 that day), moving to the next day or later.

Price differences

If the new ticket costs more, you pay the difference (or pay for the new ticket in full and the old fare is refunded, depending on your payment method). If it costs less, the difference is refunded minus a refund fee on that difference, using the standard refund scale.

Missed your train? What to do

Act quickly and stay calm:

1. Before 24:00 that day, go to a ticket window or check the app for a same-day change to another train. 12306’s rules allow this free of charge, subject to seats.

2. If there is nothing left today, ask about a later date, but expect the 40% change fee.

3. Remember that a ticket changed after departure cannot be refunded later.

Some stations close ticket checks a few minutes before departure, and long security lines are common at busy times. 12306 itself reminds passengers to allow enough time. Our article on buying tickets at the station counter has tips for window conversations.

When the railway is at fault

If the railway can’t carry you as ticketed (for example, because of a cancellation or a seat problem caused by the railway), 12306 says you can refund without a fee. If you are moved to a more expensive seat, you pay nothing extra. If line disruption stops a train, the railway may arrange a return to your departure station, a refund at an intermediate station or a detour. Ask staff for written proof if you need it for insurance.

Waitlist (候补) as an alternative

If you want a different train that is sold out, 12306’s waitlist (候补购票) lets you pre-pay and queue for seats. Accounts that have passed identity verification can use it, orders can be fulfilled up to 20 minutes before departure, and any unused pre-payment is refunded automatically. Before a holiday, it often makes more sense to waitlist the new train and only refund the old one once the new seat is confirmed. Our HSR booking guide for holidays explains how this works at peak times.

Quick checklist for foreigners

• Use only 12306.cn or the official Railway 12306 app. 12306 warns against unofficial sites and apps for refunds and changes.
• Keep the same passport you booked with, since station staff will ask for it.
• Refund 8+ days ahead if you can, because it’s free.
• Use your one change wisely.
• Call 95105105, the railway customer service line listed by 12306, if the app shows something you don’t understand.

FAQ

How much is the 12306 refund fee in 2026?

Free 8 days or more before departure; 5% from 48 hours to 8 days; 10% from 24 to 48 hours; 20% under 24 hours. The minimum fee is 2 yuan.

Can I refund a China train ticket after the train leaves?

No. 12306 does not refund tickets after departure, but you can change to another train the same day before 24:00.

How many times can I change a 12306 ticket?

Once. After that you can refund it, unless the change was made after departure.

Can foreigners refund tickets online?

Yes, if the ticket was bought on 12306 with your passport and paid electronically. Otherwise use a station window.

How long does a refund take to arrive?

12306 sends the refund at once, but your bank or payment app decides when it appears.

Bottom line

Refunding or changing a China train ticket on 12306 is straightforward once you know the clock. Refunds are free 8 or more days out, then cost 5%, 10% or 20%. You get one change per ticket. Same-day changes after a missed train are free, but later ones are expensive. Always check the terms in the 12306 app before you confirm. Lovely China, founded in 2025, welcomes corrections at [email protected].