A little preparation goes a long way.
Names, documents and exact stations matter more than the city name alone.
Choose the station first
A city may have several stations. Compare the full journey from your hotel to departure station and from arrival station onward, not only time on the train. Keep the Chinese station name for the driver.
Match your travel document
When using official 12306 channels, enter passenger details and complete verification as requested. Avoid inventing abbreviations; each traveller needs their own valid document details. Use official support for foreign-passport verification questions.
Check the actual booking status
Check service, date, class, passengers and payment status. A waitlist or processing request is not a confirmed seat. Save the final order rather than the search result, and inspect seat assignments if travelling together matters.
Changes start with the original order
For changes or refunds, check the original channel’s rules and fees before acting. If someone books on your behalf, agree who handles changes and when final confirmation will arrive, preventing duplicate purchases.