Xinjiang by Train: Riding the Urumqi–Kashgar Railway Through the Silk Road
Railway timetables and fares change by season and by year, so every departure time and price in this article should be reconfirmed against the official 12306 system or a licensed ticketing agent before you book. Where figures are approximate, they are flagged as such.
The essentials
The Urumqi to Kashgar rail corridor is the backbone of what is commonly called the southern Xinjiang railway, or Nanjiang Tielu (南疆铁路). Official railway sources state the main line runs roughly 1,450 kilometres between Urumqi, the regional capital in the north, and Kashgar, the historic Silk Road hub in the far southwest. Travelers moving between these two cities by train are essentially tracing the southern arc of the old trade routes that linked the Tarim Basin oases.
A major infrastructure milestone came in 2022, when upgrades connecting the Turpan (Tulufan) and Kashgar sections were completed to bring the line closer to full high-speed standard along key stretches. According to China Railway summaries, these works shortened the fastest Urumqi to Kashgar journeys from around 24 hours on the older slow services to roughly 12 to 14 hours on the quicker trains. The exact figure depends on which service you book, since several speed tiers still run on the corridor.
Key facts at a glance:
- Route length: approximately 1,450 km (Urumqi to Kashgar).
- Pre-upgrade fastest time: about 24 hours on older services.
- Post-2022 faster services: about 12 to 14 hours.
- The line is part of the southern Xinjiang network that also extends south toward Hotan via the Kashgar to Hotan railway (喀和铁路).
- Trains run year-round, with the fastest options concentrated on overnight and midday departures.
For broader context on how this corridor fits the regional transport map, see our page on transportation in Xinjiang.
Arriving by road
The journey logically begins at Urumqi Station (Urumqi Huochezhan), the principal hub for long-distance departures in the capital. From there the railway descends through the eastern basin towns and then runs west along the northern edge of the Tarim Basin. The major intermediate stops that travelers report using are:
- Turpan (Tulufan) to the east, a desert oasis town famous for grapes and the Gaochang and Jiaohe ruins.
- Korla (Kuerle) in the central region, a key junction near Bosten Lake and the gateway to the southern Xinjiang industrial corridor.
- Aksu further west, an oasis city on the old northern Silk Road branch.
- Kashgar (Kashi) at the southwestern terminus, the historic meeting point of multiple trade routes.
Beyond Kashgar, the Kashgar to Hotan railway continues south through the Taklamakan Desert fringe to Hotan (Hetian), the jade city of the southern Silk Road. That extension is separate from the Urumqi to Kashgar core service, but it is the same southern Xinjiang network, and travelers heading deeper into the southwest combine it with onward regional trains.
Travelers who want to break the journey in the east can read more about Turpan as a stopover. The town sits a short rail or road hop from Urumqi and makes a natural first leg.
What the ticket covers
Fares on the Urumqi to Kashgar line follow the standard China Railway seating class structure. The faster day and overnight services tend to price at the upper end, while the slowest traditional K-category trains sit lower.
Booking is done through the official China Railway 12306 platform, either the website or the app, or through a licensed agency that connects to the same inventory. Foreign travelers book with their passport number, and the name on the ticket must match the travel document exactly. Seat classes explained briefly:
- Hard seat: padded bench seating in open carriages, the budget choice for daytime legs.
- Hard sleeper: three-tier bunks in an open cabin, the default recommendation for the overnight run.
- Soft sleeper: four-berth or two-berth enclosed compartments with a door, quieter and more private.
Timing it right
The train runs every month of the year, so timing is less about whether the railway operates and more about what you want from the destination cities. Travelers report that the shoulder seasons, roughly April to early June and September to October, offer the most comfortable weather in both Urumqi and Kashgar, with fewer extreme conditions than midsummer or deep winter.
Winter services continue to run, and traveler fare reports suggest winter is both cheaper and colder, with Kashgar and the Pamir approach experiencing sharp drops in temperature and shorter daylight. Summer brings heat across the Tarim Basin but also the fullest festival and market activity in Kashgar. For a season-by-season breakdown of the whole region, see our guide to the best time to visit Xinjiang.
The itinerary I would follow
The following is a timed multi-leg plan that treats the train as the spine of a three day southern Xinjiang entry, with stops broken out rather than ridden straight through. Always verify the current timetable on 12306.
Timed plan
| Day | Time | Leg / activity |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | 08:00 to 10:30 | Explore Urumqi core (Regional Museum or city centre) before departure |
| Day 1 | 12:00 to 18:00 | Board faster midday train, Urumqi to Turpan segment |
| Day 1 | 18:30 to 21:00 | Half-day Turpan stop: Jiaohe ruins or Karez wells, then reboard |
| Day 2 | 00:00 to 09:00 | Overnight ride through the basin; sleep in hard or soft sleeper |
| Day 2 | 10:00 to 14:00 | Korla and Aksu pass; optional disembark at Korla for Bosten Lake |
| Day 2 | 15:00 to 22:00 | Continue west toward Kashgar, desert and oasis scenery |
| Day 3 | 00:30 to 08:00 | Arrive Kashgar, transfer to Old City guesthouse, rest |
| Day 3 | 09:30 to 17:00 | Kashgar Old City, Sunday Bazaar, and Id Kah area on foot |
This plan assumes you break at Turpan on day one and arrive Kashgar on day three. Travelers who prefer a single uninterrupted ride can take the overnight service and reach Kashgar by the following late morning.
Lodging notes
On the train itself, your accommodation is the sleeper class you book. Hard sleeper gives a curtained bunk in an open carriage; soft sleeper gives an enclosed compartment. Bring a sleep mask, earplugs, and a layer for the night chill, since carriage heating and cooling vary.
In Kashgar, the most frequently recommended base is a guesthouse inside or beside the Kashgar Old City, which puts you within walking distance of the maze streets, the mosques, and the morning markets. Travelers report that staying in the Old City gives the strongest sense of place and the easiest access to food. In Urumqi, the practical choice is a hotel near Urumqi Station or the city centre, depending on whether you want an early departure or a pre-trip day of sightseeing.
Food (What & Where to Eat Nearby)
At the stops and on arrival, the food is a highlight. In Urumqi, travelers point to hand-pulled noodles, dumplings, and the city’s mixed Han and Uyghur cookery; the Urumqi food map covers the main areas. In Kashgar, the Old City and the surrounding streets are known for naan fresh from the tandoor, lamb skewers, polo (pilaf rice), and the slower-cooked winter dishes; the Kashgar food guide lists specific dishes and where to find them. Link your train trip to the regional cuisine by planning at least one proper meal on each end rather than relying on the dining car.
On-the-ground practicalities
- Book early on 12306. Soft sleeper and the faster services sell out, especially in peak season. Foreign travelers register their passport in the 12306 system before buying.
- Carry your ID or passport. Ticket checks happen at the station gate and on the train, and the document must match the booking.
- Expect signal gaps. Travelers report that mobile coverage drops for long stretches through the desert and mountain sections, so download maps and entertainment in advance.
- Altitude on the approach to Kashgar. Kashgar sits at roughly 1,200 metres. Most travelers feel little effect, but combining the train with a later Pamir Plateau trip means a further climb that deserves acclimatisation time.
- Pack luggage sensibly. There is space for a large case plus a daypack, but keep snacks, chargers, and a layer within reach of your bunk.
- Reconfirm everything. Schedules shift; the 2022 upgrades changed travel times, and further adjustments appear in official data each year.
For wider safety context on moving around the region, our Xinjiang safety guide answers common questions, and the Xinjiang travel FAQ covers border permits, documents, and booking basics.
The checklist worth doing
- Timing — According to China Railway schedule data compiled after the 2022 upgrades, the faster services take about 12 to 14 hours, while the slowest traditional trains can still run up to around 24 hours.
- Urumqi to kashgar railway the same as the high — Not entirely.
- Foreign travelers book the urumqi — Yes, through the official 12306 platform using a passport number, though some travelers report that the app verification is smoother with a China phone number.
- Stoping is best for a break between urumqi and — Turpan is the most practical first break because it is close to Urumqi and rich in Silk Road sights.
- Train go all the way to hotan — The core Urumqi to Kashgar service ends at Kashgar.
- Dining car enough for a 14 hour trip — Travelers report it is not reliable as a full meal plan.
- Altitude like on this route — The train itself stays mostly at basin and lowland elevation, with Kashgar around 1,200 metres.
- Taking the train — It depends on priority.
- Train vs flight vs self-drive — Karl Huang is the editor of xinjiangtraveltips.com.
Work through that list a few days before departure, not on the morning you fly. Most of the grief I have seen on this route comes from leaving it until the last minute.
