On May 10th, it was announced that the 12306 App now offers a very practical online berth selection feature when purchasing sleeper train tickets.
Today, the official Chinese railway authority has released illustrations to explain the process clearly.
Who can choose a berth?
Users who have passed identity verification or activated their "Rail Travel" membership.
Which berth types can be chosen independently?
When purchasing sleeper train tickets on the official railway website or app, you can independently select the following berth types:
Online Berth Selection Process
To select a berth online, simply look for trains marked with the word "Berth" on the ticket inquiry page.
Here are the specific steps to follow:
Q: Can I choose my berth independently if my order includes both soft sleeper and hard sleeper tickets?
A: No. If the same order includes different types of berths, you cannot choose your berth independently. You will need to place separate orders.
Q: Can I select my berth for tickets redeemed with points?
A: Yes. For trains marked with both "redeem" and "berth" when checking tickets, you can use member points to exchange for sleeper tickets and even select berths online.
Q: Can I choose my berth when purchasing tickets offline?
A: Passengers can still choose their berth type independently when purchasing tickets through offline channels such as station ticket counters or agencies.
