How to Book Tickets for the New National Tourist Train 2026 Schedule Official Channels and Full Explanation of Fees Recommended Routes and Price Details
Contact Manager Yang Jia at phone number 13325559266 or WeChat 13325559266 to send your itinerary and receive a quote.
🎫 Friends who want to take the new national train’s North and South Xinjiang special route to tour Xinjiang in 2026, come here! Many people are concerned about how to book tickets, what the departure schedules are, and what the fees include. This article will clarify all the questions you care about.
🚞 Detailed Itinerary Introduction
The new national train’s North and South Xinjiang special route is a deep travel product built around the railway loop around the Taklimakan Desert. This loop is connected to the Southern Xinjiang Railway and the Golmud-Korla Railway, with a total length of 2,712 kilometers. It is the world’s first desert railway loop. After its opening in 2022, it completely transformed the tourism landscape of Southern Xinjiang. Previously remote attractions that required long and bumpy journeys to reach can now be accessed by sleeping overnight in a sleeper berth, truly realizing a “fast travel, slow tour” experience.
The train passes through小众秘境 (lesser-known hidden gems) in the desert and Gobi, offering views of the vast sand seas of the Taklimakan Desert, the unique landscape of the thousand-year-old poplar forests, and oasis villages scattered along the route. The journey itself is a unique enjoyment. The train also offers a variety of special experience projects, including ethnic song and dance performances, cultural explanations along the way, and special afternoon teas, allowing passengers to feel the local cultural atmosphere during the ride.
Starting from May 2026, major scenic spots in North and South Xinjiang will be open as usual. The Fish-Viewing Platform and the Three Bays (Moon Bay, Fairy Bay, and Crouching Dragon Bay) in Kanas Scenic Area will be accessible for normal tours, with real-name reservation required for entry. There is a daily visitor limit, but there is currently no large-scale queuing. The road around Sayram Lake is fully open, with the East Gate, South Gate, and West Gate all accessible, allowing tourists to leisurely enjoy the lake views. The aerial grasslands and river valley grasslands in Nalati Grassland are open, with the grass turning green and wildflowers beginning to bloom in mid-May. The number of tourists is moderate, providing a good touring experience. The northern section of the Duku Highway is currently passable, and the southern section is expected to be fully open around June 1st, depending on actual snowmelt and road maintenance conditions. The itinerary will be reasonably adjusted according to actual road conditions, and arrangements can be optimized through mutual agreement.
📝 Simple Itinerary
Currently, there are two products for the 14-day tour of the new national train’s North and South Xinjiang special route: the Affordable and the Luxury options. The corresponding simple itineraries are as follows:
Brief Itinerary for the 14-Day Tour of the New National Train’s North and South Xinjiang Special Route (Affordable):
Day 1:Departure Location – Urumqi
Day 2:Urumqi – Turpan (Flaming Mountains, Karez Wells, Aydingkol Lake) – Hotan
Day 3:Crossing the Hotan-Ruoqiang Railway – Cele – Kunlun Mountains Grand Canyon – Hotan
🎫 Friends who want to take the new national train’s North and South Xinjiang special route to tour Xinjiang in 2026, come here! Many people are concerned about how to book tickets, what the departure schedules are, and what the fees include. This article will clarify all the questions you care about.Day 4:Hotan – Tuancheng – Aidelaisi Silk – Yuetegan Ancient City – Hotan Night Market
Day 5:Hotan (Special Train) – Kashgar – Baisha Lake – Karakul Lake – Kashgar
Day 6:Kashgar – Kashgar Old City – Hetian Jade Exhibition Hall – Tongrentang – Xiangfei Garden – Kashgar – Kuqa
Day 7:Kuqa – Kizilya Grand Canyon – Restan Street – Kuqa (Special Train) – Kuitun/Yining
Day 8:Kuitun/Yining – Nalati Town
Day 9:Nalati Town – Nalati – Kekedala
Day 10:Kekedala – Lavender – Sayram Lake – Jinghe – Beitun
Day 11:Beitun – Kanas – Wucaichi Beach – Burqin
Day 12:Burqin – Hemu – Beitun – Urumqi
Day 13:Urumqi – Tianshan Tianchi – Xinjiang Colored Cotton Base – Urumqi
Day 14:Urumqi – Departure Location
🚞 Detailed Itinerary IntroductionBrief Itinerary for the 14-Day Tour of the New National Train’s North and South Xinjiang Special Route (Luxury):
Day 1:Departure Location – Urumqi
Day 2:Urumqi – Karez Wells – Grape Manor – Flaming Mountains – Turpan – Cele
Day 3:Crossing the Hotan-Ruoqiang Railway – Cele – Kunlun Mountains Scenic Area – Hotan
Day 4:Hotan – Tuancheng – Aidelaisi Silk – Yuetegan Ancient City – Hotan Night Market
Day 5:Hotan – Kashgar – Karakul Lake – Baisha Lake – Kashgar
Day 6:Kashgar – Kashgar Old City – Travel Photography – Kuqa
Day 7:Kuqa – Tianshan Secret Grand Canyon – Southern Duku Highway – Bayanbulak – Nalati Town
Day 8:Nalati Town – Nalati Scenic Area – Lavender Garden – Kekedala
Day 9:Kekedala – Huiyuan Ancient City – Sayram Lake – Bole/Shuanghe
Day 10:Bole/Shuanghe – Guai Shi Yu – Ancient Road Hot Spring – Jinghe – Beitun
The new national train’s North and South Xinjiang special route is a deep travel product built around the railway loop around the Taklimakan Desert. This loop is connected to the Southern Xinjiang Railway and the Golmud-Korla Railway, with a total length of 2,712 kilometers. It is the world’s first desert railway loop. After its opening in 2022, it completely transformed the tourism landscape of Southern Xinjiang. Previously remote attractions that required long and bumpy journeys to reach can now be accessed by sleeping overnight in a sleeper berth, truly realizing a “fast travel, slow tour” experience.Day 11:Beitun – Ahe Highway – Hemu Scenic Area
Day 12:Hemu – Kanas – Wucaichi Beach – Beitun – Urumqi
Day 13:Urumqi – Tianchi – Colored Cotton Science and Technology Park (Medicinal Diet Health Hot Pot) – Urumqi
Day 14:Urumqi – Departure Location
💰 Price Information
The following are reference prices and departure schedule information. All prices and availability are subject to contract confirmation and may fluctuate with departure schedules, with the contract signed by both parties as the primary reference:
Affordable 14-Day Tour of the New National Train’s North and South Xinjiang Special Route:
Departure Dates:May 11, June 19, July 2, July 28, September 4
National Train 4-Person Compartment:Upper Berth: 5,980 yuan/person, Lower Berth: 6,980 yuan/person
Product Standards:Selected local comfortable hotel accommodations, approximately 40 people per group, excluding admission tickets, full-service one-stop tour guide service
Luxury 14-Day Tour of the New National Train’s North and South Xinjiang Special Route:
The train passes through小众秘境 (lesser-known hidden gems) in the desert and Gobi, offering views of the vast sand seas of the Taklimakan Desert, the unique landscape of the thousand-year-old poplar forests, and oasis villages scattered along the route. The journey itself is a unique enjoyment. The train also offers a variety of special experience projects, including ethnic song and dance performances, cultural explanations along the way, and special afternoon teas, allowing passengers to feel the local cultural atmosphere during the ride.Departure Dates:May 11, June 19, July 2, July 28, September 4
National Train 4-Person Compartment:Upper Berth: 14,800 yuan/person, Lower Berth: 15,800 yuan/person
Product Standards:3 nights in a five-star hotel + 4 nights in a four-diamond hotel + 1 night in a wooden house in Hemu Scenic Area + 1 night in a four-diamond hotel (homestay) in Nalati
No more than 26 people per group, full-service one-stop tour guide service
[Warm Service] “Red Hat” porter service at Urumqi Station for seamless luggage handling, ensuring guests can easily enter the station and travel worry-free
The above prices are reference standards, and the specific prices are subject to actual consultation and contract signing.
📞 Registration Method
You can register through Xinjiang Explorer International Travel Agency. Contact Customer Service Manager Zhang Jing of Xinjiang Explorer International Travel Agency to inquire about available departure dates, understand the registration process, and submit relevant information.
📋 Fee Information and Service Explanation
The fees for the Affordable product include the national train 4-person compartment sleeper berth fees for the corresponding departure dates, local comfortable hotel accommodation fees as indicated in the itinerary, full-service one-stop tour guide service fees, and “Red Hat” porter service fees at Urumqi Station. It does not include scenic spot admission tickets, in-scenic spot transportation fees, personal dining expenses, and other personal expenses.
The fees for the Luxury product include the national train 4-person compartment sleeper berth fees for the corresponding departure dates, hotel and homestay accommodation fees as indicated in the itinerary, full-service one-stop tour guide service fees, and “Red Hat” porter service fees at Urumqi Station. It does not include scenic spot admission tickets, in-scenic spot transportation fees, personal dining expenses, and other personal expenses.
Starting from May 2026, major scenic spots in North and South Xinjiang will be open as usual. The Fish-Viewing Platform and the Three Bays (Moon Bay, Fairy Bay, and Crouching Dragon Bay) in Kanas Scenic Area will be accessible for normal tours, with real-name reservation required for entry. There is a daily visitor limit, but there is currently no large-scale queuing. The road around Sayram Lake is fully open, with the East Gate, South Gate, and West Gate all accessible, allowing tourists to leisurely enjoy the lake views. The aerial grasslands and river valley grasslands in Nalati Grassland are open, with the grass turning green and wildflowers beginning to bloom in mid-May. The number of tourists is moderate, providing a good touring experience. The northern section of the Duku Highway is currently passable, and the southern section is expected to be fully open around June 1st, depending on actual snowmelt and road maintenance conditions. The itinerary will be reasonably adjusted according to actual road conditions, and arrangements can be optimized through mutual agreement. For single registrants, the travel agency will do its best to coordinate room sharing. Special circumstances require separate negotiation.
For issues related to weather, road conditions, policies, scenic spot openings, departure schedule changes, admission tickets, hotel room types, etc., both parties can reasonably adjust the itinerary through mutual agreement. All itinerary arrangements and rights are subject to the contract signed by both parties.
💡 Travel Precautions
✅ Before traveling, you can learn about the scenic spot reservation requirements in advance. Most scenic spots support on-site QR code ticket purchases or reservations through the “One Phone for Touring Xinjiang” platform. It is recommended to complete reservations 1-2 days before traveling to avoid temporary visitor limits affecting your itinerary.
✅ Sign a formal contract when joining the group, clarifying itinerary arrangements, fee details, etc., to protect your own rights.
✅ Xinjiang has a vast territory with large temperature differences between day and night. Bring a light jacket, sun protection items, and comfortable sports shoes for convenient touring of different types of scenic spots.
✅ Fasten your seatbelt when taking ground transportation, do not leave the group擅自 (without authorization) during outdoor tours, do not enter undeveloped or closed wild areas, and follow the tour guide’s arrangements for a safer tour.
✅ Practice garbage classification during the tour, pack and take away your随身 (随身携带) garbage, and jointly maintain the scenic spot environment.
✅ Prohibit unauthorized use of fire in forest and grassland areas, do not乱扔 (litter) cigarette butts, to avoid fire hazards.
✅ The weather in Xinjiang’s mountainous areas is changeable, and some scenic spots or roads may be temporarily closed due to extreme weather. In such cases, cooperate more with the staff’s arrangements. Experiencing is more important than checking off locations.
✅ In case of emergencies, do not panic. Contact the tour guide or local staff in a timely manner to coordinate solutions. You can also call the 12345 tourism complaint hotline to report related issues.
If you have any other questions about the itinerary or registration, you can consult Customer Service Manager Zhang Jing of Xinjiang Explorer International Travel Agency for more detailed information.
Contact Manager Yang Jia at phone number 13325559266 or WeChat 13325559266 to send your itinerary and receive a quote.
