China Train Tickets for Children: Age Rules, Seats and Passport Requirements

A China train child ticket depends on how old the child is on your travel date. If the child is under 6 years old, they can travel for free without a seat, with only one per paying adult. Children between 6 and under 14 require a discounted child ticket. Children aged 14 years and above are treated as adults and pay full price. A slight mistake in the booking may lead to overpaying, a rejected booking, or delays at the gate.

Tourist families often miss a few important points. The free child must be declared during the time of booking or at the station counter. A free child traveling on his own with a seat requires a discounted child ticket. All foreign tourists, including children, require passports for declaration and booking.

Does my child need a train ticket in China?

Yes, every child travelling by train needs a valid travel document. It depends on their age and the type of travel document they hold. The age is calculated on the date of travel. This is the key rule for determining the China train child ticket age.

Age-based Child Ticket Decision Table

All child train tickets in China have these rules applicable as well:

1. A child’s ticket should be for the same date and train class and type as the adult ticket. The destination of the journey should be either earlier than or match the adult's journey.
2. Every child requires a valid ID document at the station. In the case of foreign tourists, a passport should be carried.
3. The age bracket is applicable on the date of travel. If a child turns 6 years old on the travel day, they will fall under the discounted child fare criteria and not the free one.
4. All children under 14 travelling via train must be accompanied by an adult. There are some exceptions for commuting students and acceptable care arrangements. It would not be advisable for a foreign tourist family to make any plans based on such exceptions.

Be cautious about the terminology used because this is where many foreign tourists get confused. A free child has no assigned seat but is travelling with a document. On the other hand, the discounted child ticket provides an assigned seat at a discounted price for the child.

Policies and fares for Child train tickets may get updated. Confirm current figures on the official train booking site.

Is my child free and what does "free" actually mean?

Three criteria need to be fulfilled for a free child ticket:

1. He or she must be accompanied by an adult while travelling
2. The child must not occupy any seat
3. The child must be declared or mentioned while booking the tickets

If you miss any of these criteria, you will need to buy a discounted child ticket.

The one-free-child-per-adult rule

Each travelling adult can only accompany one child under 6 for free. If the adult has more accompanying kids below 6, they need to buy discounted child ticket(s).

A child qualified for a free ticket should buy the discounted child ticket if they are sitting on a separate seat. For example, if your 5-year-old wishes to have his/her own window seat during a five-hour journey, you should buy the discounted child ticket.

Declaring a free child at booking

As per the 12306 rules (China's national ticket booking system), a valid ID for the free child used during the declaration process is regarded as the credential for their travel.

The declaration process through the 12306 application will be carried out from the order page. While booking tickets through Trip.com, you do not need to enter credentials for the free child as passenger. Notify the concerned staff members at the ticket collection counter instead.

In case you forget, the rules state that the declaration process can also be carried out before the commencement of travel. It can be done through the website, the booking application or even from the ticket counter at the railway station. Some tourist families buy a child ticket deliberately because it is more comfortable during travel.

How much is a child train ticket in China?

The fare of the child ticket is calculated as a percentage of the adult ticket and may vary according to the type of train and class of seat. This is the China train child ticket price families should consider when planning their journey:

Conventional Trains

A child ticket is 50% of the published adult fare for K, T, Z, and similar services. Additional plus express and air-conditioning supplements are charged.

High-speed and EMU trains by seat class

Fare is calculated based on seat class:

There are two rules applicable to high-speed trains:

• Child fare cannot be less than 40% of the published fare.
• If the fare for the adult is less than 40% of the published fare, the child will pay the same amount as an adult.

Sleepers and Overnight trains

The child ticket fare depends on whether the train is conventional or high-speed:

Why the discount is not always exactly half ?

Discounted fares are dependent on three factors. Premium class seats are discounted at approximately 80%, while sleeper class have around a 70% discount and so on. As of September 2025, China’s national ticket booking system has implemented a regulation that child fares of EMU (high-speed) trains will be calculated on the executed fare and not the published fare.

What document does my child need to book and to board?

The child's own passport

For a foreign tourist, a child needs his/her own passport. It can be used to make a declaration or book a separate train ticket.

If the booking platform cannot verify a foreign passport

Valid foreign passports are required for ticket booking or declaration. You may check these three things if the child’s passport fails during the verification step:

1. The name should exactly match the name in the passport
2. The issuing country and passport number should be entered correctly
3. The details of the child should be entered separately in the My Passengers section and not under the adults' details
4. If it still fails on the 12306 site, you can also book tickets via Trip.com or at the station counter. You should carry passports for all travellers.

What to carry on travel day

Carry passports for all foreign tourist passengers. Passport holders navigate through the manual channel at three separate checkpoints during their journey.

A staff member will physically validate your passport and enter details into their system to confirm that you have made a booking for the day. There could be long queues at security check, ID check, and the entry gate. The checking for the tickets also stops before departure.

It is advisable to arrive early at the railway station when travelling with kids. In case you face any issues, consult the staff present there and show them your ID and tickets.

How do I book child tickets on 12306 and on Trip.com?

It is recommended to book the tickets for all travellers in one booking. After checking the ticket fare and class, add information for each child using their passport details.

On 12306

12306 is the official website used to book trains in China. It provides current time information and is a very reliable source for booking tickets. Foreign visitors are supposed to go through the process of identity verification through the app, which typically takes 3-5 working days.

You may check out Trip.com to book your train tickets online for a hassle-free experience.

On Trip.com

1. Plan the journey on the Trip.com website or app by logging in or signing up for an account.
2. Click "Trains." Enter "Departure", "Arrival" and "Date", then click "Search."
3. Use the filter option at the bottom to filter out the trains that you are looking for. Select the category of seats, such as Business Class, Premium First Class, First Class, Second Class, etc.
4. Insert all travellers' details by entering each one's passport number separately. Select seats in advance: window, aisle or middle seat. Then click "Confirm".
5. You can either check the “Child” box or leave it unchecked. If you want a free child's ticket, you can remove the child's passenger information by unchecking the box and notify the concerned staff members at the ticket collection counter. In case the child requires a separate seat, make sure that the child's box is checked and the ticket is booked.
6. Complete the payment for ticket fares. Trip.com supports multiple payment methods: Apple Pay, Debit Card, PayPal, Gift Card, etc.

The tickets for adults and children are usually purchased together in one go, which makes the entire process convenient and hassle-free.

Can we sit together as a family?

There is no guarantee that a foreign tourist family will be seated together on a train. The best way to increase the chances of your request being approved is to book all people in one order, but no website guarantees adjacent seating.

If the booking page allows selecting individual seats, then select all seats at once. During peak season, it is difficult to get adjacent seats. If your family is sitting separately, you may check with the train conductor if something is possible. Do not buy an extra seat without checking the rules to get seats beside each other.

Travelling with children on sleeper trains

Children are allowed to travel in Chinese sleeper trains as well. Though, they have their own set of rules.

The English version of the 12306 guidelines states that children can occupy the same berth as adults with berth tickets.

Berth allocation takes place automatically. According to official sources, preferences for lower berths are given to senior citizens or passengers above 60 years of age. For others who require a lower berth, it is best to go to the station office and consult the staff. They may check the inventory and can suggest another train if possible.

Travelling with a stroller, luggage and young children

Free baggage allowance is 10 kg per child, including those free of tickets. The free baggage allowance for every adult is 20 kg. Each bag can have a maximum length of 160 cm (rod-like objects can have a maximum length of 200 cm) for traditional trains and 130cm in EMU trains. The maximum weight allowed for each bag is 20 kg. The foldable wheelchairs used by differently-abled people do not fall under the above restrictions.

An accompanying baby’s folding stroller could be taken free of charge and does not fall under the restrictions of standard carry-ons.

If you have an early train to catch with your kids and bags, try bunking at a place near your departure station. Getting there by taxi is better than using the metro or a taxi for a longer journey early in the morning.

Common Failures and failure cases

A Quick Checklist

• Ensure you input the correct age of the child as on the date of travel.
• Declare only one free child per adult.
• Book discounted child ticket and adult tickets in a single order.
• Carry passports for everyone.
• Double-check the train, fare date, and seat class before making the payment.