Travelling in China with Children: Documents, Tickets and Daily Plans

Plan every child as a passenger with their own document and booking requirements. Check entry eligibility separately, declare children correctly on train orders, and confirm room occupancy and transport arrangements before paying. An adult's successful reservation does not establish that the whole family can use it.

Use each child's age on the travel date, their travel document and whether they need their own seat or berth. Check the entry document needed for each child with the relevant Chinese embassy or immigration authority. A parent's nationality, visa or visa-free eligibility does not automatically settle a child's situation, particularly where nationality is complex.

Save each child's booking details with the adult's. Bring the original travel documents, and check any carrier or border requirements for consent or relationship evidence when a child travels with one parent or another adult. Requirements can depend on the route and authorities involved; there is no universal document checklist for every family.

For ordinary mainland domestic railway travel, 12306 specifies:

• Children aged 6 to under 14 need a child discount ticket.
• Passengers aged 14 or older need a full-price ticket.
• Each ticketed adult may take one child under 6 free without a separate seat or berth. Additional children under 6 need child discount tickets.
• A child under 6 who needs a separate seat also needs the appropriate child ticket. Children travelling free must be declared in advance.

Use the child's own applicable identity document, including a foreign passport where accepted by the booking system, and carry it for the journey. If the provider cannot add the child or declare free travel correctly, seek booking support before departure. Do not simply arrive with an undeclared child and assume an adult ticket is enough.

Carry each child’s original travel document and check that every child is included in the booking.

For sleeper journeys, ask specifically about a separate berth and its fare. Check the issued seats or berths for every passenger; being on the same order does not by itself prove that you will sit together.

Airlines have their own infant, child, seating, stroller and baggage conditions. Ask the operating airline about the exact flight, including any codeshare, before applying a train age rule to it. A stroller allowance or bassinet request is not the same as a confirmed child seat.

For a car transfer, confirm the vehicle's passenger capacity after counting everyone and the luggage. If you need a suitable child restraint, arrange and confirm it in advance with the provider, including its suitability for the child's size and how it is fitted. A standard ride request does not establish that a child restraint will be supplied.

Use 我们带孩子，需要合适的儿童安全座椅。能提前确认型号和安装方式吗？ — “We are travelling with a child and need a suitable child safety seat. Can you confirm the model and fitting arrangements in advance?”

Tell the hotel the number of adults and children and the children's ages. Ask about maximum occupancy, existing beds, cots or extra beds, breakfast and any additional charge. Obtain confirmation of what is included; a room photograph does not answer those questions.

Check access for a stroller and where it can be stored. If arriving very early, arrange luggage storage or room access rather than planning a full sightseeing day immediately after overnight travel.

Choose a manageable main outing and leave room for food, toilets and rest. Check the route to a staffed exit or help point before entering a large attraction. A route with fewer changes can be easier than the shortest route on a map.

Keep tissues, drinking water, necessary supplies and essential medication accessible. For allergies or medical needs, prepare an accurate Chinese explanation and use the relevant specialist guide rather than relying on a pictogram.

Agree on a specific meeting point and a simple instruction to seek uniformed venue staff if separated. Keep contact information privately accessible to the child or accompanying adult. If a child is missing, alert venue staff and local police promptly; do not wait for a live-location app to resolve it.

Useful phrases are 请问母婴室在哪里？ — “Where is the baby-care room?” and 请问有可以推婴儿车的无台阶路线吗？ — “Is there a route without steps for a stroller?” Confirm the actual facility rather than assuming it exists everywhere.

Sources

• 12306: domestic ticket purchase instructions, child age bands and free-travel declaration.
• 12306: ticketing rules and accepted passenger identity documents.
• China Southern: domestic passenger conditions, including children and infants.