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Train 26 of 62 known sticking points

You need to add a ticket on board

If your ticket only covers part of the trip, find the conductor (列车员) and pay the difference.

Top up !

Find the conductor to pay the difference.

What you'll see

If you boarded but your ticket does not cover the whole journey, you must extend it on board:

"Ticket incomplete" · "Please supplement fare"
车上提示为:车票不完整 / 请补票
Error-text level: L2 (observed wording). Exact on-board text is being verified.

Why it happens

A partial ticket is valid only for the booked segment. The conductor (列车员) can extend it for the difference, or a penalty applies if you have no valid ticket.

Fastest fix, free: Find the conductor (列车员), usually near the middle of the car, show your ticket and passport, and pay the difference.
Last verified: 2026-09-20 · Confidence: Multiple sources (pending first-hand verification)
The full fix sequence (free)
  1. Find the conductor (列车员), usually near the middle of the car.
  2. Show your ticket and passport; explain you need to extend.
  3. Pay the difference by cash, WeChat, Alipay or sometimes card.

When the fast fix isn't enough

In the kit

The kit gives the conductor phrase card.

1. The conductor phrase card (CN + EN)

Show this to ask to supplement the fare.

2. The trigger matrix

When a penalty applies.

3. Offline printable version

The phrase card as a printable card.

If nothing works

If you cannot find the conductor:

  1. Ask any passenger where the conductor is.
  2. Go to the dining or connection car, where staff often are.
  3. Handle it at the arrival station window if missed on board.

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Most travellers know about three of these before they fly. This one is often not one of them.

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