Industry update
Autumn holiday rail bookings open: plan around hospital appointments
China Railway expects busy holiday travel and directs passengers to official 12306 booking channels.
Published: 2026-09-11Source date: 2026-09-11
A September 11 Beijing government notice, citing China Railway, identifies September 23–October 8 as the holiday rail travel period. Sales for September 23 began on September 9. The notice recommends early planning and the official 12306 waitlist when preferred trains are unavailable.
Patients travelling between cities should confirm hospital appointments before booking onward travel and allow time for transfers. Ask the hospital about holiday clinic arrangements and the railway operator about any assistance needed. A waitlist request is not a confirmed ticket; avoid basing a time-critical visit on an unconfirmed journey.
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