---
title: "How Do Taiwan Travellers Book China's High-Speed Rail? 12306 Registration, Tickets and Boarding"
description: "A Taiwanese mobile number can register on 12306 — the widely repeated claim that only +86 numbers work is wrong, according to the official high-speed rail ticketing guidance. Delivery of the SMS code is unreliable, though, and switching your phone's system language to Simplified Chinese is a fix travellers report works. You don't need paper tickets: tap in with the permit itself, but gate readers vary by station, so use the staffed lane. Booking hours are 05:00–01:00, not 24/7."
type: "guide"
published: "2026-08-21T00:00:00"
updated: "2026-08-29T06:42:24.471578Z"
reading_minutes: 6
word_count: 1788
tags: ["Taiwan", "Trains", "Transport"]
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# How Do Taiwan Travellers Book China's High\-Speed Rail? 12306 Registration, Tickets and Boarding

_Last Updated: 2026-08-29 | Reading Time: 6 min_

Tags: Taiwan, Trains, Transport

## Table of Contents

- How Do Taiwan Travellers Book China's High-Speed Rail? 12306 Registration, Tickets and Boarding
- Key takeaways
- Can a Taiwanese number register on 12306?
- What if the verification code doesn't arrive?
- Registering on 12306, step by step
- What hours can you book on 12306?
- Do you need to collect a paper ticket?
- Security screening and luggage
- The mistakes Taiwanese travellers make most
- After renewing your permit, what has to be redone on 12306?
- Frequently asked questions
- Conclusion

## Related routes

- [China, End to End](https://www.lyriktrip.com/tours/china-end-to-end-18-days) — 18d · $6,360
  - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/lgRtYUwR.jpg
  - Stops: Beijing, Xi'an, Chuanzhusi, Jiuzhaigou, Chengdu, Zhangjiajie, Guilin, Yangshuo, Shenzhen, 北京, 西安, 川主寺, 九寨沟, 成都, 张家界, 桂林, 阳朔, 深圳, Peking, Xi'an, Chuanzhusi, Jiuzhaigou, Chengdu, Zhangjiajie, Guilin, Yangshuo, Shenzhen, Pékin, Xi'an, Chuanzhusi, Jiuzhaigou, Chengdu, Zhangjiajie, Guilin, Yangshuo, Shenzhen, Pekín, Xi'an, Chuanzhusi, Jiuzhaigou, Chengdu, Zhangjiajie, Guilin, Yangshuo, Shenzhen, Pechino, Xi'an, Chuanzhusi, Jiuzhaigou, Chengdu, Zhangjiajie, Guilin, Yangshuo, Shenzhen
- [Above the Pillars, Then Below](https://www.lyriktrip.com/tours/zhangjiajie-5-days) — 5d · $1,430
  - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/6r6KBlWN.webp
  - Stops: Zhangjiajie, 张家界, Zhangjiajie, Zhangjiajie, Zhangjiajie, Zhangjiajie
- [After the Last Booth](https://www.lyriktrip.com/tours/canton-fair-foshan-3-days) — 3d · $840
  - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/8ACVuoNa.webp
  - Stops: Guangzhou, 广州, Guangzhou, Canton, Cantón, Canton
- [All the Way West](https://www.lyriktrip.com/tours/silk-road-xian-kashgar-13-days) — 13d · $3,500
  - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/9cI5H2ZV.webp
  - Stops: Xi'an, Dunhuang, Turpan, Kashgar, Shanghai, 西安, 敦煌, 吐鲁番, 喀什, 上海, Xi'an, Dunhuang, Turfan, Kaschgar, Shanghai, Xi'an, Touen\-houang, Tourfan, Kachgar, Shanghaï, Xi'an, Dunhuang, Turfán, Kashgar, Shanghái, Xi'an, Dunhuang, Turfan, Kashgar, Shanghai
- [Axis to Kitchen Table](https://www.lyriktrip.com/tours/beijing-xian-chengdu-12-days) — 12d · $4,060
  - Image: https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/2WLhk97i.webp
  - Stops: Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, 北京, 西安, 成都, Peking, Xi'an, Chengdu, Pékin, Xi'an, Chengdu, Pekín, Xi'an, Chengdu, Pechino, Xi'an, Chengdu

![A high\-speed train at a Chinese station platform — Taiwan travellers book with their permit](https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/htK7DvL1.webp)

## How Do Taiwan Travellers Book China's High-Speed Rail? 12306 Registration, Tickets and Boarding

\*\*A Taiwanese mobile number can register on 12306\.\*\* The claim circulating online that "only \+86 numbers work" is wrong — though the misunderstanding has a real cause, because SMS delivery genuinely is unreliable\.

At LyrikTrip we plan mainland itineraries, and this is one of the technical questions we field most often\. This guide covers both halves at once: \*\*the policy does allow it\*\*, and \*\*what to do when the code doesn't arrive\*\*\.

## Key takeaways

\- \*\*Taiwanese numbers can register\.\*\* Per the official high\-speed rail ticketing guidance, 12306 accepts mainland, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan mobile numbers, or an email address\. \- \*\*⚠️ But SMS delivery is unreliable\*\* — switching your phone's system language temporarily to Simplified Chinese is a fix travellers report works\. \- \*\*No paper ticket is needed\*\*: tap in and out with the same permit you booked with\. \- \*\*⚠️ Automatic gates don't reliably read the permit\*\*, and support varies by station — use the staffed lane by default\. \- \*\*Booking hours are 05:00–01:00\*\* \(Tuesdays until midnight\), not 24/7; refunds can be processed at any hour\.

## Can a Taiwanese number register on 12306?

\*\*Yes\.\*\* According to the official high\-speed rail ticketing guidance, holders of the Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents can register a 12306 account using \*\*a mobile number \(mainland, Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan numbers accepted\) or an email address\*\*, activating the account after identity and contact verification\.

Some Taiwanese blogs state that "12306 only accepts \+86 mainland numbers, so buy a registered mainland SIM card first" — \*\*that is not correct\*\*, and following it wastes money\.

So why do so many people believe it? Because the truth has two layers:

|  | The claim | Reality |
| --- | --- | --- |
| \*\*Policy\*\* | Only \+86 works | ❌ Wrong\. Taiwan, HK and Macau numbers are accepted |
| \*\*Technical\*\* | The code always arrives | ❌ Also wrong\. \*\*Delivery is unreliable\*\* |

\*\*The correct reading: a Taiwanese number works, but you may need several attempts\.\*\* The next section covers what actually helps\.

## What if the verification code doesn't arrive?

![Completing 12306 registration and verification on a phone](https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/ctD0Si41.webp)

\*\*Work through this order — it resolves it for most people\.\*\*

| Step | Action | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | \*\*Complete email verification first\*\* | The order matters; don't skip it |
| 2 | \*\*Switch your phone's system language to Simplified Chinese\*\* | Travellers report the code then arrives "instantly" |
| 3 | Use 4G/5G or stable Wi\-Fi | — |
| 4 | Avoid midday and evening peaks | Failure rates are higher then |
| 5 | Try again at different times of day | Community reports suggest persistence works |
| 6 | Still nothing → use the \*\*overseas number \+ email\*\* login combination | Bind an email at registration |

\*\*Why the language switch may help\*\*: 12306's default environment is Simplified Chinese, and overseas numbers can hit language or formatting compatibility issues; switching the system language appears to let the message format through\.

This is a traveller\-reported workaround rather than official guidance — but it costs nothing, so try it first\.

\*\*Bind an email during registration regardless\*\* — you will want it for password recovery and login\.

## Registering on 12306, step by step

\*\*The web and app flows are broadly the same, but the app is smoother to download and register through, with more functionality\.\*\* Search "12306" on the App Store or Google Play, and keep it updated\.

### Document type and how to enter your name

\- \*\*Document type\*\*: choose \*\*"Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents"\*\* \- \*\*Name\*\*: when entering manually, it \*\*must be in Simplified Chinese\*\* \- \*\*Length limit\*\*: follow the order on the permit, up to \*\*30 characters\*\* \(each Chinese character counts as two\)

The name field is where most failures happen — traditional characters or the wrong order will fail verification\.

### Scanning beats typing

The 12306 app offers a \*\*scan\-to\-add\*\* function: tap the scan button when filling in document details and the system reads the permit and fills the fields automatically\. You can also upload a photo of the document instead\.

\*\*Scanning sidesteps both the Simplified\-character and the character\-count problems\*\*, so use it on a first registration\.

Once the details are complete and you have accepted the terms, confirm your information to move to verification\.

## What hours can you book on 12306?

\*\*Booking and changes: 05:00–01:00; Tuesdays 05:00 to midnight\. Refunds can be processed 24 hours a day\.\*\*

No Taiwanese guide seems to mention this, but it directly affects when you can work: \*\*trying to book in the middle of the night simply fails\.\*\* If you usually sort travel admin before bed, avoid the 01:00–05:00 window\.

## Do you need to collect a paper ticket?

![Station ticket gates and staffed lanes — use the staffed lane with a Taiwan permit](https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/2IXyeeVt.webp)

\*\*No\.\*\* China's railways have moved fully to electronic ticketing: \*\*tap in and out with the same permit you booked with\*\*, with no need to collect a physical ticket at a counter or machine\.

Many Taiwanese guides still say the permit must be exchanged for a paper ticket at a staffed window — \*\*that advice is out of date\*\*\.

### But the gates may not read it — use the staffed lane

⚠️ \*\*Automatic gates do not read the permit reliably:\*\*

| Station | Automatic gates |
| --- | --- |
| Major hubs like Beijing South and Shanghai Hongqiao | Support the permit |
| \*\*Smaller stations\*\* | \*\*Not necessarily\*\* |

\*\*Practical advice: default to the staffed lane\*\* and show the permit to a member of staff\. If the gate works, great — but don't rely on it\.

\*\*Carry the original of the same document you booked with\*\* on the day of travel\.

## Security screening and luggage

\*\*The process resembles airport security — not complicated, but leave time\.\*\*

1\. \*\*Arrive\*\* 45–60 minutes early; \*\*60–90 minutes\*\* at major stations such as Beijing West or Shanghai Hongqiao, or during public holidays — the crowds are substantial 2\. \*\*Security screening\*\*: place bags through the X\-ray machine and pass through a metal detector\. Put phones, power banks and keys in your bag beforehand to get through more quickly 3\. \*\*Ticket check\*\*: as noted above — use the staffed lane 4\. \*\*Waiting\*\*: find your waiting area by the gate number; boarding starts 15–20 minutes before departure 5\. \*\*Boarding\*\*: carriage and seat numbering works like Taiwan's HSR; large luggage goes on the racks at the carriage ends

## The mistakes Taiwanese travellers make most

![A vast station waiting hall — allow 60–90 minutes at major stations](https://cdn.lyriktrip.com/s/lmRMjJMc.webp)

\*\*One — treating the city name as the station name\.\*\* Cities have several stations: Beijing South / Beijing West / Beijing, Shanghai Hongqiao / Shanghai, Chengdu East / Chengdu South\. Picking the wrong one can mean half an hour of extra travel, or a missed train\. Check the \*\*full station name\*\* before booking\.

\*\*Two — missing the release window\.\*\* Tickets go on sale \*\*15 days ahead\*\*, usually released between \*\*08:00 and 10:00\*\*\. On popular routes over National Day or Spring Festival they sell out alarmingly fast\.

\*\*Three — giving up when it's sold out\.\*\* Use 12306's \*\*waitlist\*\* function, then compare earlier and later services, other stations in the same city, or boarding at an intermediate stop\. \*\*Don't deliberately book the wrong segment just to get on board\.\*\*

\*\*Four — arriving too late\.\*\* Security checks and crowds at major stations far exceed what travellers from Taiwan expect\. Err on the early side\.

\*\*Five — forgetting the original document\.\*\* Electronic ticketing depends on tapping the permit itself; without the original you cannot enter\.

## After renewing your permit, what has to be redone on 12306?

\*\*Identity verification has to be redone\.\*\* The last two digits of the permit number represent the issue count, so \*\*the number changes on renewal\*\* — and 12306 matches the full number, which no longer holds\.

You will need to:

\- Redo the account's \*\*identity verification\*\* \- Update the old document number in your \*\*frequent passengers\*\* list \- Check that document details match on any booking made before the renewal

If your permit was recently replaced or is nearing expiry, our \[permit renewal guide\]\(/guides/taiwan\-mtp\-permit\-renewal\) has the full update checklist — bank accounts and payment apps need attention too\.

## Frequently asked questions

\*\*Can a Taiwanese mobile number register on 12306?\*\* Yes\. According to official high\-speed rail ticketing guidance, 12306 accepts numbers from mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, as well as registration by email\. The claim that "only \+86 works" is incorrect, though SMS delivery can be unreliable and may take several attempts\.

\*\*What if the verification code never arrives?\*\* Complete email verification first, then temporarily switch your phone's system language to Simplified Chinese — travellers report the code then arrives instantly\. Avoid peak hours and try again\. If the problem persists, use the overseas number plus email login combination\.

\*\*Do I need to exchange the permit for a paper ticket?\*\* No\. Ticketing is fully electronic; tap in and out with the original permit you booked with\. However, automatic gates read permits inconsistently — major hubs generally work, while smaller stations may not — so use the staffed lane\.

\*\*What hours does 12306 operate?\*\* Booking and ticket changes run from 05:00 to 01:00, with services ending at midnight on Tuesdays; refunds are available 24 hours a day\. Booking overnight will simply fail, so avoid the 01:00–05:00 window\.

\*\*Should the name be in Traditional or Simplified characters?\*\* Use Simplified characters when entering manually, following the order shown on the permit, up to 30 characters \(each Chinese character counts as two\)\. Using the app's scan\-to\-add function avoids the problem entirely\.

\*\*Does 12306 still work after renewing my permit?\*\* Identity verification has to be redone\. The last two digits of the number represent the issue count and change on renewal, and the system matches the full number\. Update the old number in your frequent passengers list too\.

## Conclusion

Three things matter when booking China's high\-speed rail with a Taiwan permit: \*\*a Taiwanese number does work, no paper ticket is needed, and the gates may not read your permit — so use the staffed lane\.\*\*

If you are stuck on the verification code, try switching your phone's language to Simplified Chinese first: lowest cost, highest return\. If you are stuck on identity verification, check whether your permit number is the post\-renewal one\.

For the rest of the preparation, see our \[Taiwan Compatriot Permit guide\]\(/guides/taiwan\-mtp\-permit\-guide\)\. If you are planning an inter\-city route, our \[Shanghai guide\]\(/guides/taiwan\-shanghai\-travel\-guide\) covers choosing between Hongqiao and Pudong, and our \[Hangzhou guide\]\(/guides/taiwan\-hangzhou\-travel\-guide\) explains why heading south from Shanghai beats heading west\.

12306's rules and service hours may change, and services and fares are as displayed at the time of booking; information here was checked in August 2026\.

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