- Bring a sleeping bag liner — sheets are provided but thin.
- Earplugs + eye mask: hard sleeper cars light up and snore.
- Charge bank: outlets are scarce per bunk; soft sleeper has one per compartment.
- Food: the dining car does cheap noodles and rice sets; bring snacks. Hot water is free.
- Lock your door (soft sleeper) and keep passport on you.
Scenery Worth Staying Awake For
- The Turpan–Hami stretch crosses gobi and wind farms at dawn.
- The Yili line winds through river valleys and tunnels.
- The Kashgar run passes the Tarim desert edge and oasis towns.
Why Choose Train Over Flight?
Flights are faster point-to-point but you miss the land. The train shows you Xinjiang’s scale — oasis after oasis, then 200km of nothing. For budget and low-stress, it wins. For pure speed (Urumqi–Kashgar in 2h by air), fly.
FAQ
Is it safe? Very. Stations have security checks; cars are patrolled.
Can I work on the train? Wi-Fi is unreliable; use downloaded content.
Luggage limit? Generous — 20kg per adult, but keep a small bag by your bunk.
- Hard Sleeper (硬卧): open bunks in 6s, no door. Social, cheap (¥200–400), fine for short hops.
- Soft Sleeper (软卧): 4 bunks in a closed compartment with a door. Worth it on long runs (¥400–700).
- High-speed 2nd/1st class: seats only; fine for day trips under 4h.
Booking
Use 12306.cn (the official app, has English beta) or Ctrip/Trip.com. Foreign passport holders must use the passport number and collect at the counter or use the foreigner channel. Book 3–7 days ahead in summer — popular routes sell out.
Tip: the “foreigner ticket” window at big stations handles collection smoothly. Arrive 40 min early.
Surviving the Night
- Bring a sleeping bag liner — sheets are provided but thin.
- Earplugs + eye mask: hard sleeper cars light up and snore.
- Charge bank: outlets are scarce per bunk; soft sleeper has one per compartment.
- Food: the dining car does cheap noodles and rice sets; bring snacks. Hot water is free.
- Lock your door (soft sleeper) and keep passport on you.
Scenery Worth Staying Awake For
- The Turpan–Hami stretch crosses gobi and wind farms at dawn.
- The Yili line winds through river valleys and tunnels.
- The Kashgar run passes the Tarim desert edge and oasis towns.
Why Choose Train Over Flight?
Flights are faster point-to-point but you miss the land. The train shows you Xinjiang’s scale — oasis after oasis, then 200km of nothing. For budget and low-stress, it wins. For pure speed (Urumqi–Kashgar in 2h by air), fly.
FAQ
Is it safe? Very. Stations have security checks; cars are patrolled.
Can I work on the train? Wi-Fi is unreliable; use downloaded content.
Luggage limit? Generous — 20kg per adult, but keep a small bag by your bunk.
- Lanzhou–Xinjiang High-Speed (D/G trains)<< (~40min), to Hami (~2.5h), to Lanzhou (~11h). Fast and smooth.
- < (regular + faster rail): the classic south run, 1,500km. The new faster line cut it to ~11–14h.
- Northern loop< (seasonal tourist train).
- Cross-region: Urumqi–Hotan, Urumqi–Aksu.
Sleeper Classes
- Hard Sleeper (硬卧): open bunks in 6s, no door. Social, cheap (¥200–400), fine for short hops.
- Soft Sleeper (软卧): 4 bunks in a closed compartment with a door. Worth it on long runs (¥400–700).
- High-speed 2nd/1st class: seats only; fine for day trips under 4h.
Booking
Use 12306.cn (the official app, has English beta) or Ctrip/Trip.com. Foreign passport holders must use the passport number and collect at the counter or use the foreigner channel. Book 3–7 days ahead in summer — popular routes sell out.
Tip: the “foreigner ticket” window at big stations handles collection smoothly. Arrive 40 min early.
Surviving the Night
- Bring a sleeping bag liner — sheets are provided but thin.
- Earplugs + eye mask: hard sleeper cars light up and snore.
- Charge bank: outlets are scarce per bunk; soft sleeper has one per compartment.
- Food: the dining car does cheap noodles and rice sets; bring snacks. Hot water is free.
- Lock your door (soft sleeper) and keep passport on you.
Scenery Worth Staying Awake For
- The Turpan–Hami stretch crosses gobi and wind farms at dawn.
- The Yili line winds through river valleys and tunnels.
- The Kashgar run passes the Tarim desert edge and oasis towns.
Why Choose Train Over Flight?
Flights are faster point-to-point but you miss the land. The train shows you Xinjiang’s scale — oasis after oasis, then 200km of nothing. For budget and low-stress, it wins. For pure speed (Urumqi–Kashgar in 2h by air), fly.
FAQ
Is it safe? Very. Stations have security checks; cars are patrolled.
Can I work on the train? Wi-Fi is unreliable; use downloaded content.
Luggage limit? Generous — 20kg per adult, but keep a small bag by your bunk.
The train is the unsung hero of Xinjiang travel. The network is fast, cheap, and scenic, and the sleeper cars let you trade a night for 600km of distance. Done right, it’s the most relaxing way to cross this giant region.
The Network
- Lanzhou–Xinjiang High-Speed (D/G trains)<< (~40min), to Hami (~2.5h), to Lanzhou (~11h). Fast and smooth.
- < (regular + faster rail): the classic south run, 1,500km. The new faster line cut it to ~11–14h.
- Northern loop< (seasonal tourist train).
- Cross-region: Urumqi–Hotan, Urumqi–Aksu.
Sleeper Classes
- Hard Sleeper (硬卧): open bunks in 6s, no door. Social, cheap (¥200–400), fine for short hops.
- Soft Sleeper (软卧): 4 bunks in a closed compartment with a door. Worth it on long runs (¥400–700).
- High-speed 2nd/1st class: seats only; fine for day trips under 4h.
Booking
Use 12306.cn (the official app, has English beta) or Ctrip/Trip.com. Foreign passport holders must use the passport number and collect at the counter or use the foreigner channel. Book 3–7 days ahead in summer — popular routes sell out.
Tip: the “foreigner ticket” window at big stations handles collection smoothly. Arrive 40 min early.
Surviving the Night
- Bring a sleeping bag liner — sheets are provided but thin.
- Earplugs + eye mask: hard sleeper cars light up and snore.
- Charge bank: outlets are scarce per bunk; soft sleeper has one per compartment.
- Food: the dining car does cheap noodles and rice sets; bring snacks. Hot water is free.
- Lock your door (soft sleeper) and keep passport on you.
Scenery Worth Staying Awake For
- The Turpan–Hami stretch crosses gobi and wind farms at dawn.
- The Yili line winds through river valleys and tunnels.
- The Kashgar run passes the Tarim desert edge and oasis towns.
Why Choose Train Over Flight?
Flights are faster point-to-point but you miss the land. The train shows you Xinjiang’s scale — oasis after oasis, then 200km of nothing. For budget and low-stress, it wins. For pure speed (Urumqi–Kashgar in 2h by air), fly.
FAQ
Is it safe? Very. Stations have security checks; cars are patrolled.
Can I work on the train? Wi-Fi is unreliable; use downloaded content.
Luggage limit? Generous — 20kg per adult, but keep a small bag by your bunk.