Trip.com (Ctrip) Guide: Book Flights, Trains & Hotels in China (2026)

Need to book a Beijing-to-Shanghai bullet train? A domestic flight to Chengdu? A hotel that actually accepts foreigners? Trip.com (formerly Ctrip) is your best friend.

It's China's largest online travel agency — think Expedia meets Booking.com, but actually designed for the Chinese travel market. The key advantage for foreigners: full English interface + international credit card support.

Why Trip.com Is Essential

Need	Can You Use Western Apps?	Trip.com?
Train tickets	No — 12306 is Chinese only	✅ English, int'l cards
Domestic flights	Partially — Skyscanner/Google Flights	✅ More options, better prices
Hotels	Booking.com works but limited	✅ Largest China hotel inventory
Airport transfers	No Uber	✅ Book in advance

Getting Started

Download

• Search "Trip.com" on App Store or Google Play
• Or use the website: trip.com

Account Setup

1. Open the app → Sign Up
2. Use your email or Google/Apple account
3. No Chinese phone number needed
4. No ID verification required for browsing and booking

Booking Trains (The #1 Use Case)

China's high-speed rail is the best way to travel between cities. Trip.com makes it simple:

Step-by-Step

1. Tap Trains on the home screen
2. Enter your departure and arrival cities in English (e.g., "Beijing" → "Shanghai")
3. Select your date
4. Browse available trains:
   • G-trains: Fastest (300+ km/h), most comfortable
   • D-trains: Fast (200-250 km/h), slightly cheaper
   • K/T/Z-trains: Slower, cheapest, overnight options
5. Select a train → choose seat class
6. Enter passenger details:
   • Name (as on passport)
   • Passport number
   • Nationality
7. Pay with Visa/Mastercard/Amex

Price Comparison

Trip.com adds a small service fee (~¥20-40) on top of the base fare:

Route	12306 Price	Trip.com Price
Beijing → Shanghai (G-train, 2nd class)	¥553	¥573-593
Shanghai → Hangzhou (G-train, 2nd class)	¥73	¥93-113
Guangzhou → Shenzhen (G-train, 2nd class)	¥75	¥95-115

Worth it? For most tourists — yes. The convenience of English interface and international cards justifies ¥20-40.

Boarding with Trip.com Tickets

• At the station, scan your passport at the automatic gates
• Your booking is linked to your passport number — no paper ticket needed
• Arrive 30-45 minutes early for security screening

Booking Flights

Domestic Flights

1. Tap Flights → search by city
2. Filter by:
   • Direct flights only
   • Departure time
   • Airline preference
3. Compare airlines: See our China airlines comparison and China Eastern vs Air China guides
4. Book and pay with international card

Tip: Domestic flights are often cheaper on Trip.com than on Google Flights because Trip.com has direct contracts with Chinese airlines.

Baggage Warning

Chinese domestic flights typically include:

• Economy: 20 kg checked bag (some budget carriers: 0 kg!)
• Carry-on: 7 kg, max 55×40×20 cm
• Check the exact policy on Trip.com before booking

Booking Hotels

Why Trip.com for Hotels?

Advantage	Details
Foreigner-friendly filter	Shows hotels that accept foreign passports
Largest inventory	More Chinese hotels than Booking.com
Chinese front desk contact	Trip.com can call the hotel for you in Chinese
Pay later option	Some hotels offer pay-at-hotel

Important: Not All Hotels Accept Foreigners

Chinese law requires hotels to register foreign guests with the police. Some budget hotels and guesthouses are not licensed to accept foreigners. Trip.com clearly marks which hotels can.

Look for: "Accepts foreign guests" or "International guests welcome" badge.

For more on this topic, see our hotel check-in guide for foreigners.

Booking Tips

• Book refundable when possible — plans change in China
• Read recent reviews from foreign guests specifically
• Location matters more than stars: A well-located 3-star beats a remote 5-star. Use Baidu Maps to check the location
• Contact the hotel before arrival if you have special requests — Trip.com has a chat feature

Trip.com vs Other Platforms

Feature	Trip.com	Booking.com	Agoda	12306
Trains	✅ English	❌	❌	✅ Chinese only
Flights	✅ Best China prices	✅	✅	❌
Hotels	✅ Largest China inventory	✅ Limited	✅ Limited	❌
Language	English	English	English	Chinese
Payment	Int'l cards	Int'l cards	Int'l cards	Alipay/WeChat only
Customer service	24/7 English	24/7 English	24/7 English	Chinese only

Pro Tips

Get Better Prices

1. Check the app vs website — prices sometimes differ
2. Use the "Local Price" toggle — sometimes shows cheaper options
3. Book trains 15+ days ahead — no early-bird discount, but popular routes sell out
4. Bundle hotel + flight — Trip.com offers package discounts

Dealing with Issues

• Train cancelled? Trip.com refunds automatically
• Hotel problems? Use the in-app chat — Trip.com staff can call the hotel in Chinese on your behalf
• Flight delayed? Trip.com sends notifications and handles rebooking

Save Offline

• Download your booking confirmations as PDFs
• Screenshot your train booking details (in case you lose signal at the station)
• Save the hotel address in Chinese (copy from Trip.com)

FAQ

Is Trip.com legit?

Yes. It's China's largest OTA (Nasdaq-listed as TCOM), founded in 1999. Over 400 million users.

Does Trip.com accept PayPal?

Yes, in addition to Visa, Mastercard, Amex, and JCB.

Can I book first class train tickets on Trip.com?

Yes. All seat classes are available, including business class.

Is Trip.com cheaper than booking directly?

For trains: slightly more expensive (service fee). For flights and hotels: often the same or cheaper due to bulk contracts.

Can I cancel bookings on Trip.com?

Trains: Free cancellation before departure (small fee close to departure time). Hotels: Depends on the rate (refundable vs non-refundable). Flights: Varies by airline.

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Trip.com handles the logistics. The China Survival Kit handles everything else — payments, navigation, communication, and survival tips.