Privacy Policy
How CTT Protects Customer Information
This policy explains how the CTT website and China Train Tickets app collect and use information for bookings, account features and customer support.
Information we collect
This policy covers the CTT website and China Train Tickets app. We collect account identifiers, names, email addresses, phone numbers when provided, passenger details, travel routes and dates, orders and payment status. We also keep messages sent to customer support, refund or change requests and reviews you submit.
Passport photos and passenger details
For real-name train booking, passport photos and passenger details are sent to our server and used by our staff and ticketing partners to arrange tickets, including passenger registration on China Railway's 12306 system. These details can include passport number, nationality, sex, date of birth and passport expiry date. Passport text recognition in the app runs on your device to fill in the form; review the details before saving or booking. The photo and saved details are uploaded for the requested service.
How we use information
We use your information to confirm availability, create orders, arrange tickets, tours or transfers, contact you about your booking, provide customer support and meet legal or supplier requirements.
Payment and documents
Card and PayPal credentials are entered on the payment provider's hosted pages, including PayPal and UseePay, rather than collected by the app. We receive payment and refund status and transaction references to manage your order. Passport copies and uploaded documents are protected from public access.
Apple sign-in and on-device features
If you use Sign in with Apple, we use Apple's account identifier and the email address Apple provides, which may be a private relay address, to manage your sign-in. Recent searches and widget preferences stay on your device. Upcoming journey details are shared locally with the app's widgets and Live Activity. We do not use app data for advertising tracking.
Security checks
Some forms use a self-hosted, privacy-friendly verification check (Cap) to reduce spam and abuse. It runs a small proof-of-work challenge in your browser and does not share your data with third-party services such as Google.
Sharing information
We share booking information only with staff, ticketing partners, guides, transfer providers, hotels or other service suppliers when it is necessary to arrange the service you requested.
Retention and requests
We keep account data while your account is active. After account deletion, order records, passenger details recorded on those orders, related documents, payment and refund records, and customer-support history may remain for accounting, service support, disputes and applicable legal obligations. Deleting your account does not automatically cancel or refund a booking. Contact CTT for questions about a retained record or a further deletion request.
Delete your app account
In the iOS app, open Account > Personal Details > Delete Account and confirm with your password or fresh Apple authentication. This removes your account profile and saved passenger and address details and revokes active sign-in sessions. Uploaded passport photos and avatars are removed when they are not referenced by retained orders or other records. Records described above may remain. If you cannot sign in, contact us using the details below for help with account deletion.