12306 Desktop Website
Desktop booking guide. The 12306 desktop website is China Railway's official online booking platform, offering ticket search, booking, and payment services. This guide explains how to use 12306 on your computer.
Desktop Advantages
Large Screen
Larger interface, clearer information, easier operation
Fast Input
Faster keyboard input, efficient for multiple passengers
Precise Operation
Mouse control for seat and train selection
Stable Network
Wired connection more stable, safer payment
How to Use 12306 Desktop
1. Visit Official Website
Open your browser and go to www.12306.cn. Use Chrome, Firefox, or Edge for best experience.
2. Log In
Click "Login" in the upper right, enter your username and password. First-time users need to register first.
3. Search Tickets
Enter departure, destination, and date in the search box on the homepage, then click "Search".
4. Select Train and Seat
Choose a train from the results and click "Book". Some trains support online seat selection.
5. Add Passengers and Pay
Select or add passengers, confirm order, then choose payment method. Alipay, WeChat Pay, and bank cards supported.
Browser Requirements
For the best experience, use: Google Chrome (latest), Mozilla Firefox (latest), Microsoft Edge (latest), Safari (13.0+). Ensure JavaScript is enabled and clear cache if needed.
When the website beats the phone
The app is better for checking on the move, but several tasks are noticeably faster on a computer, mostly because of how much more fits on screen:
- Group travel β selecting four or five passengers and checking each document and seat class involves far fewer mis-taps on a large screen.
- Complex connections β comparing several routings and shifting dates back and forth is easier across browser tabs.
- Receipts and printing β business travellers producing reimbursement documents will want a desktop and a printer.
- Waiting for tickets to be released β leaving a page open beats holding a phone for twenty minutes.
Booking on the desktop site, step by step
1. Sign in and check your passengers
Go to 12306.cn and sign in. On first use, open My 12306 β Frequent Contacts and confirm that everyone travelling with you is saved and verified, rather than discovering a problem at checkout.
2. Search for trains
Enter origin, destination and date on the home page. Results can be filtered by departure time, journey length and seat class, and you can show only trains with availability. In large cities, make sure you have the right station.
3. Choose a class and submit the order
Click to book, tick the passengers, and choose a seat class; on high-speed services you can also express a window or aisle preference. Submitting the order locks a seat and moves you to payment.
4. Pay within the time limit
The order shows how long you have to pay, usually around ten minutes. Unpaid orders are cancelled automatically and the seat released. Once paid, the trip appears under unfinished orders and there is nothing to collect.
Common desktop problems
- Page renders oddly or buttons do nothing β clear cache and cookies first, or try a current version of a mainstream browser.
- You keep getting logged out β usually cookies being blocked; check privacy settings and disable aggressive blocking extensions.
- The captcha will not load β network interference or an extension. Refresh, and temporarily switch off ad blockers.
- The payment page will not open β do not resubmit the order. Find it under unfinished orders and continue payment there, otherwise you tie up your booking allowance.
- Identity not verified β verification has to clear first; upload documents as prompted or visit a station counter.
A word on ticket-grabbing extensions
Browser extensions that hammer the site with automatic refreshes can trigger anti-abuse limits on your account, and some simply harvest credentials. The official waitlist is more effective anyway, and does not require handing your account to a third party.