Planning your journey for the 2026 Spring Festival travel rush? The ticket sale for the world's largest annual migration begins on January 19. Here's a concise guide with all the essential information and new services to ensure a smooth trip home and back.
Key booking dates
The 2026 Spring Festival travel period runs from February 2 to March 13, lasting 40 days. The official holiday is from February 15 (Chinese New Year's Eve) to February 23.
Based on the 15-day advance ticket sale period, mark your calendars:
February 1: Tickets for February 15 (the first day of the holiday) go on sale.
February 9: Tickets for February 23 (the return trip after the holiday) become available.
February 17: Tickets for March 3 (Lantern Festival return travel) go on sale.
What's new for 2026?
Several new services and policies have been introduced to enhance the travel experience.
1. Free "mistaken purchase" refunds
Starting January 19, if you buy the wrong ticket for travel dates from February 2 onward, you can receive a full refund within 30 minutes of payment, provided it's at least 4 hours before departure. This service is available on the 12306 platform (website/app).
2. More benefits for students & seniors
2026 graduates will receive an additional 2 one-way student discount tickets this academic year, bringing their total to 6 discounted trips to facilitate job hunting in other cities.
Seniors aged 60 and older can now book tickets via the 12306 telephone hotline, which has added dedicated service lines. Those needing assistance can also pre-book "Key Passenger Service" online, at station service desks, or by phone.
3. Expanded "quiet cars"
From February 1, the "Quiet Car" service (marked with a "静" symbol on 12306) will be available on most "D" and "G" category high-speed trains (excluding sleeper services), expanding to over 8,000 trains nationwide. Passengers must agree to maintain silence when booking these seats.
4. Door-to-station luggage service
To ease the burden of carrying large luggage, the "Light Travel" (轻装行) service is now available at 111 major stations across China (including newly added cities like Harbin, Xi'an, and Urumqi). This offers "door-to-station" or "station-to-door" luggage transport within 35 km of the station.
5. Ski equipment on board
A pilot "Ski Convenience" (雪具便利行) service is available on select routes in Northeast China. Passengers can book online to bring skis/snowboards, which will be stored in designated areas on the train.
Other essential tips
New timetable: A nationwide railway schedule update takes effect on January 26, adding more trains and optimizing routes, especially in central/western China and the Guangdong-Hong Kong region.
Group booking windows: Student and migrant worker group bookings are available. Eligible travelers can submit requests 17-20 days before departure, with confirmed seats allocated 16 days in advance.
Use 12306 features: Make full use of waitlist booking, online seat selection, and sale reminder subscriptions to secure your tickets.
Plan ahead, note the key dates, and utilize these new services for a more convenient Spring Festival journey home.
Related News:
China expands "Quiet Cars" on high-speed rail network
Author | Jiang Chang
Photo | Nanfang Plus, 12306
Editor | Wei Shen, James Campion, Shen He
