How to Change or Cancel a Train Ticket on China Railway 12306
Last updated: 2026-04-30
Plans change. 
Refund Fee Structure
China Railway charges a cancellation fee based on how much time remains before departure:
| Time before departure | Cancellation fee |
|---|---|
| More than 15 days | No fee (full refund) |
| 48 hours to 15 days | 5% of ticket price |
| 24 to 48 hours | 10% of ticket price |
| Less than 24 hours | 20% of ticket price |
| After departure | No refund |
Once the train has departed, no refund is possible. If you miss your train, you can sometimes board a later train on the same day with the same ticket — ask station staff, but this is not guaranteed.
How to Cancel a Ticket
1. Open 12306 and go to 'My Orders'
Tap the 'My' tab at the bottom of the screen. Tap 'My Orders' (我的订单) to see all your bookings.
2. Find the ticket you want to cancel
Locate the booking you want to cancel. Tap on it to open the order details.
3. Tap 'Refund' or 'Cancel'
Look for the 'Refund' (退票) button. The app will show you the refund amount after the cancellation fee. Review the amount before confirming.
4. Confirm the cancellation
Confirm the cancellation. The refund is processed back to your original payment method — international card refunds typically take 5–10 business days to appear.
How to Change Your Travel Date
Changing to a different train or date is called a "voluntary change" (自愿改签) in 12306. You can change once for free if the new ticket is the same price or higher.
1. Go to 'My Orders' and select your booking
Open 12306, go to 'My Orders', and tap the booking you want to change.
2. Tap 'Change Ticket' (改签)
Look for the 'Change Ticket' (改签) option. This is different from 'Refund' — it lets you switch to a different train without cancelling.
3. Select a new train
Search for available trains on your new preferred date. Select the train and seat class you want. If the new ticket costs more, you pay the difference. If it costs less, you may receive a partial refund.
4. Confirm the change
Confirm the change. Your original ticket is cancelled and a new one is issued. The new ticket appears in 'My Orders'.
If your plans are uncertain, book the earliest available train and change it later if needed. The change fee is usually lower than the cancellation fee, and you keep your seat reservation.
Practical Tips
- Act early: The sooner you cancel, the smaller the fee. If you know you won't travel, cancel immediately rather than waiting.
- Sold-out trains: If you want to change to a sold-out train, you can't — changes are only possible if seats are available on the new train.
- International card refunds: Refunds to international cards can take longer than domestic cards — allow up to 2 weeks for the refund to appear on your statement.
- Station cancellation: You can also cancel at the station ticket window (售票处) by showing your passport. The same fee structure applies.
- No-show: If you simply don't show up without cancelling, you lose the full ticket price. Always cancel if you know you won't travel.