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Train 22 of 62 known sticking points

You need to change or refund your ticket

Change (改签) to another train, or refund (退票) with a fee that shrinks the earlier you act.

Change? !

Refund fees shrink the earlier you act.

What you'll see

If your plans changed, the app lets you change or refund — with a fee that depends on timing:

"Change not allowed" · "Refund fee applies"
中国 App 里显示为：不可改签 / 收取退票费
Error-text level: L2 (observed wording). Exact in-app strings are being verified.

Why it happens

Refund fees are 5% over 48h before, 10% at 24-48h, 20% under 24h. Change (改签) to another train is usually free of a separate fee but subject to fare difference.

Fastest fix, free: Open the booking, tap Change (改签) to pick another train, or Refund (退票) — act early to cut the fee.
Last verified: 2026-09-20 · Confidence: Multiple sources (pending first-hand verification)
The full fix sequence (free)
  1. Change (改签): pick another train on the same or a different day.
  2. Refund (退票): fee is 5% over 48h, 10% at 24-48h, 20% under 24h.
  3. If linked to a Chinese phone you no longer have, do it at a station window.

When the fast fix isn't enough

In the kit

The kit gives the fee table and the window script.

1. The refund-fee table

Exact fees by time-to-departure.

2. The trigger matrix

When self-service is blocked.

3. Offline printable version

The fee table as a printable card.

Get the offline kit — $9.99 Read the free guides first

If nothing works

If the app will not let you change or refund:

  1. Go to a station ticket window with your passport.
  2. Ask a Chinese companion to do it on their account.
  3. For a refund, keep the transaction ID for any dispute.

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