12306 is China Railway’s official ticket platform, and its English FAQ accepts eligible valid foreign passports for real-name ticketing.
Official reference#
The railway FAQ requires the travel document used to buy the ticket for station and train checks. An itinerary sheet is not itself a boarding ticket.
Booking checklist#
Check the exact departure and arrival stations, date, train number, class and passenger document details. Read the current fare, change and refund terms before paying. Do not use an unsupported per-kilometre fare table.
Before departure#
Keep the booking information and original valid document available. Follow station notices for security and check-in. A search result or payment attempt is not a confirmed ticket, and an old article cannot establish today’s seat availability.