Xiaoxiang Special Train Route Planning Official Website Booking Process Introduction
For more details about Xinjiang train tours, contact Zhang Jing, customer service manager of Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Agency: 181-3962-2233 (same as WeChat)
🚂 In 2026, Xinjiang railway tourism products will be fully upgraded, with plans to operate a hundred themed tourist trains throughout the year, covering all core tourism resources in northern and southern Xinjiang, offering travelers from all over a richer selection of options for entering Xinjiang. Among them, the Xiaoxiang train, as a flagship 18-day in-depth tour of northern and southern Xinjiang, has attracted attention from many tourists planning a deep exploration of Xinjiang due to its ultra-long itinerary coverage, multiple room type options, and accommodation configuration combining sleeper berths with local boutique hotels.
🌄 Detailed Itinerary Introduction
This Xiaoxiang train departs from Guangzhou Baiyun Station, passes through several central cities, and then enters Xinjiang. The entire route connects core tourist spots in eastern Xinjiang, northern Xinjiang, Ili, southern Xinjiang, and the Pamir Plateau, covering various landscapes such as yardang landforms, snowy mountains and lakes, grasslands and river valleys, highland wetlands, and ancient city culture. Tourists do not need to purchase tickets multiple times or plan routes, allowing them to visit multiple characteristic tourism resources in Xinjiang in one go.
The Hami Grand Sea Road Devil City included in the itinerary is a well-known yardang landform cluster in China. The scenic area is open from 09:30 to 19:00 year-round, with specific operating status subject to the day’s conditions. The yardang formations created by wind erosion vary in shape, and the scene of intertwined Gobi and rock layers has a unique wilderness texture. It also preserves pterosaur fossil sites and ancient Silk Road station relics, combining natural and cultural resources. Tianchi Lake in Changji Prefecture is a high-altitude lake landscape, surrounded by snowy mountains and spruce forests, with clear water quality that presents different scenery under varying weather conditions. The Kanas and Hemu areas in Altay focus on mountain forests, river valleys, and ancient village landscapes, with lush vegetation in spring and summer and colorful forests in autumn, making them highly regarded natural scenic spots in northern Xinjiang.
Sayram Lake in the Ili region is known as the Highland Blue Lake, with surrounding grasslands echoing the snowy mountains. Nalati Sky Grassland is at a high altitude, combining grassland and mountain landscapes. The river channels and wetland areas of Bayinbuluke Grassland are habitats for many naturally growing birds. The itinerary also includes a tour of the essence section of the Duku Highway, which runs through the Tianshan Mountains from north to south, allowing tourists to enjoy multiple landscapes such as snowy mountains, canyons, grasslands, and forests in one go. Currently, this section recommends allowing vehicles of 7 seats or less to pass, and the itinerary has pre-arranged vehicles that meet the standards for the tour.
In the Pamir Plateau area of southern Xinjiang, Karakul Lake is surrounded by snowy mountains. The Golden Grassland Wetland takes on a golden texture on sunny days, and the Stone City ruins bear witness to the trade exchanges of the ancient Silk Road. The old city of Kashgar retains traditional residential buildings and street layouts. Attractions like Id Kah and Fragrant Concubine’s Tomb allow tourists to experience the local cultural landscape. The Lop Nur Village and Bosten Lake near Korla combine water town features with folk customs, making them rare water-based scenic spots in southern Xinjiang.
🚂 In 2026, Xinjiang railway tourism products will be fully upgraded, with plans to operate a hundred themed tourist trains throughout the year, covering all core tourism resources in northern and southern Xinjiang, offering travelers from all over a richer selection of options for entering Xinjiang. Among them, the Xiaoxiang train, as a flagship 18-day in-depth tour of northern and southern Xinjiang, has attracted attention from many tourists planning a deep exploration of Xinjiang due to its ultra-long itinerary coverage, multiple room type options, and accommodation configuration combining sleeper berths with local boutique hotels. In 2026, Xinjiang tourist trains have generally undergone service upgrades, with all trains equipped with onboard service staff, some routes also equipped with onboard medical staff and first-aid facilities, meals designed with local specialty cuisines, and bedding supplies upgraded and optimized, improving overall journey comfort.
🗓 ️ Simplified Itinerary
Warm Tips:The train route, passing stations, and times are for reference only, subject to the final departure notice.
D1:Itinerary Details——Depart from Guangzhou Baiyun Station around 23:40 on the special train, passing through Changsha, Wuchang, Xinyang, Xi’an, Lanzhou, heading to beautiful Xinjiang, starting the panoramic journey of the Western Regions; Meals——None; Accommodation——Southern Special Train
D2: Itinerary Details——Sightseeing along the special train route, passing stations for reference: Changsha (10:00), Wuchang (15:00), Xinyang (18:30), Zhengzhou (23:58), enjoying the scenery along the way; Meals——Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner; Accommodation——Southern Special Train
D3:Itinerary Details——Sightseeing along the special train route, passing stations for reference: Xi’an (10:12), Lanzhou (19:49), gradually approaching the hinterland of the Western Regions, experiencing the change of regional scenery; Meals——Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner; Accommodation——Southern Special Train
D4:Itinerary Details——Arrive in Hami in the afternoon on the special train, visit [Grand Sea Road Devil City] to explore the yardang wonders, experiencing the unique landforms of the Western Regions; Meals——Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner; Accommodation——Hami
🌄 Detailed Itinerary IntroductionD5:Itinerary Details——Visit [Prince’s Palace], enjoy the [Twelve Muqam] intangible cultural heritage performance, take the special train to Urumqi in the evening; Meals——Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner; Accommodation——Urumqi
D6:Itinerary Details——Depart from Urumqi, visit [Tianchi Lake] to capture the picturesque lake scenery, explore [Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar] to experience Western Regions folk customs, take the special train to Beitun in the evening; Meals——Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner; Accommodation——Southern Special Train
D7:Itinerary Details——Arrive in Beitun City early, head to [Kanas] scenic area for an in-depth tour, explore the picturesque scenery, stay overnight in Jadengyu; Meals——Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner; Accommodation——Jadengyu
D8:Itinerary Details——Depart from Jadengyu, visit [Hemu] ancient village, [Colorful Beach] Danxia landform, enjoy the sunset scenery, take the special train from Beitun to Yining in the evening; Meals——Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner; Accommodation——Southern Special Train
D9:Itinerary Details——Arrive in Yining early, head to [Sayram Lake] to enjoy the highland blue lake scenery, then visit [Nalati] Sky Grassland; Meals——Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner; Accommodation——Nalati
D10:Itinerary Details——In-depth tour of [Nalati Grassland], then head to [Bayinbuluke Grassland], experiencing the grandeur of Swan Lake and the Nine Bends and Eighteen Turns; Meals——Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner; Accommodation——Bayin Town
D11:Itinerary Details——Depart from Bayin, take the essence section of [Duku Highway], visit [Tianshan Mysterious Grand Canyon], arrive in Kuqa, take the special train to Kashgar in the evening; Meals——Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner; Accommodation——Southern Special Train
Our agency offers various travel options, including train tours, carpool tours, group tours, and customized car services. For detailed inquiries, call: 181-3962-2233 (copy and add as friend for detailed Xinjiang travel itineraries and prices)
This Xiaoxiang train departs from Guangzhou Baiyun Station, passes through several central cities, and then enters Xinjiang. The entire route connects core tourist spots in eastern Xinjiang, northern Xinjiang, Ili, southern Xinjiang, and the Pamir Plateau, covering various landscapes such as yardang landforms, snowy mountains and lakes, grasslands and river valleys, highland wetlands, and ancient city culture. Tourists do not need to purchase tickets multiple times or plan routes, allowing them to visit multiple characteristic tourism resources in Xinjiang in one go.D12:Itinerary Details——Depart from Kashgar, head to [Pamir Plateau], visit [Karakul Lake], [Stone City], [Golden Grassland], stay overnight in Tashkurgan County; Meals——Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner; Accommodation——Tashkurgan County
D13:Itinerary Details——Depart from Tashkurgan County, experience [Home Visits with Various Ethnic Groups] to feel the folk customs, visit [White Sand Lake], return to Kashgar city; Meals——Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner; Accommodation——Kashgar
D14:Itinerary Details——Visit [Kashgar Old City], [Id Kah], [Fragrant Concubine’s Tomb], deeply experience the charm of Kashgar ancient city, take the special train to Korla in the evening; Meals——Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner; Accommodation——Southern Special Train
D15:Itinerary Details——Depart from Korla, visit [Lop Nur Village], [Bosten Lake], experiencing the unique water town and folk customs of southern Xinjiang; Meals——Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner; Accommodation——Korla
D16:Itinerary Details——Take the special train from Korla Station in the morning for the official return journey, starting the trip home; Meals——Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner; Accommodation——Southern Special Train
D17:Itinerary Details——Sightseeing along the special train route on the return trip, passing stations for reference: Lanzhou (8:51), Chongqing North (21:08); Meals——Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner; Accommodation——Southern Special Train
The Hami Grand Sea Road Devil City included in the itinerary is a well-known yardang landform cluster in China. The scenic area is open from 09:30 to 19:00 year-round, with specific operating status subject to the day’s conditions. The yardang formations created by wind erosion vary in shape, and the scene of intertwined Gobi and rock layers has a unique wilderness texture. It also preserves pterosaur fossil sites and ancient Silk Road station relics, combining natural and cultural resources. Tianchi Lake in Changji Prefecture is a high-altitude lake landscape, surrounded by snowy mountains and spruce forests, with clear water quality that presents different scenery under varying weather conditions. The Kanas and Hemu areas in Altay focus on mountain forests, river valleys, and ancient village landscapes, with lush vegetation in spring and summer and colorful forests in autumn, making them highly regarded natural scenic spots in northern Xinjiang.D18:Itinerary Details——The special train passes stations for reference: Xiangtan (10:14), Zhuzhou (11:08), arrives at Guangzhou Baiyun Station at 19:40, tourists get off at nearby stations and return to their warm homes; Meals——Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner; Accommodation——Warm Home
💴 Price Explanation
This Xiaoxiang train in 2026 has limited scheduled departures recommended for 6 sessions, not to be missed, with sessions on May 10, May 30, June 22, July 11, August 19, and September 19. The train uses a combination of full-train sleeper berths and local boutique hotels for accommodation, with different room types to suit various travel needs, comfortable and worry-free. Reference prices for various room types (per person) are as follows, with prices and availability subject to change based on the session, as per the signed contract:
Xiaoxiang Mansion:Luxury room type, with bathroom, capacity 2-3 people, good privacy｜62999 RMB/person
Zhengxiang Courtyard 2-person Room:Comfortable double room, without bathroom｜45999 RMB/person
Zhengxiang Courtyard 4-person Room:High cost-effective four-person room, without bathroom｜42999 RMB/person
Yuanxiang Pavilion 4-person Upper Berth:Convenient and comfortable, without bathroom｜17999 RMB/person
Sayram Lake in the Ili region is known as the Highland Blue Lake, with surrounding grasslands echoing the snowy mountains. Nalati Sky Grassland is at a high altitude, combining grassland and mountain landscapes. The river channels and wetland areas of Bayinbuluke Grassland are habitats for many naturally growing birds. The itinerary also includes a tour of the essence section of the Duku Highway, which runs through the Tianshan Mountains from north to south, allowing tourists to enjoy multiple landscapes such as snowy mountains, canyons, grasslands, and forests in one go. Currently, this section recommends allowing vehicles of 7 seats or less to pass, and the itinerary has pre-arranged vehicles that meet the standards for the tour.Yuanxiang Pavilion 4-person Lower Berth:Convenient and comfortable, without bathroom｜19999 RMB/person
📞 Registration Method
Tourists interested in learning more or registering can sign up through Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Agency. Consultation phone number and WeChat are the same:181-3962-2233, address information can be obtained from customer service.
📋 Cost and Service Explanation
The cost of this itinerary includes: sleeper berth accommodation on the special train for the corresponding room type, local boutique hotel accommodation as listed in the itinerary, all meals indicated in the itinerary, first admission tickets to scenic spots listed in the itinerary, regular tourist bus transfers for local tours, full-trip onboard service staff, and travel-specific insurance. Costs not included are: scenic area shuttle bus fees, self-selected paid experience projects, personal consumption-related expenses, and single room supplements if unable to arrange shared accommodation. For single travelers, the agency will try to arrange shared accommodation, with special cases to be negotiated separately.
In terms of service, this itinerary follows the 2026 Xinjiang tourist train service standards, with qualified guides and onboard service staff throughout, meals designed with local specialty cuisines, and emergency medical kits for common health issues. Involving weather, road conditions, policies, scenic area openings, schedule changes, tickets, hotel room types, etc., reasonable itinerary changes can be made by mutual agreement. All cost details, service content, and related rights and obligations are subject to actual consultation and signing, with relevant cancellation and change rules following the Tourism Law, Contract Law, and other relevant legal provisions.
💡 Travel Tips
Xinjiang has a vast territory with significant temperature differences between regions. Some high-altitude areas have lower temperatures, so bring 1-2 thick jackets to cope with temperature changes. High-altitude areas have strong ultraviolet rays, so prepare sunscreen clothing, sunglasses, sunscreen, and sun hats. The itinerary is long, so carry common medications such as cold, motion sickness, anti-inflammatory, anti-diarrheal, and anti-allergy drugs for emergencies. Before traveling, ensure your health condition is suitable for long-distance travel, and inform onboard service staff promptly if you feel unwell during the trip.
For more details about Xinjiang train tours, consult customer service Zhang Jing ☎️: 181 3962 2233 (add as friend to receive free: detailed itinerary and train introduction)
