The Silk Road Journey - Xi'an to Kashgar by Train
Alexander Kim
Member
The Trans-Xinjiang Railway from Xi'an to Kashgar (via Urumqi) is one of the world's greatest train journeys. 48 hours through changing landscapes:
The Route: Starting from ancient Xi'an, the train climbs onto the Loess Plateau, crosses the Hexi Corridor, then enters the vast Taklamakan Desert. The desert at sunset is mesmerizing.
Hard-sleeper vs Soft-sleeper: Hard-sleeper (6 berths) is fine if you have a sheet. Soft-sleeper (4 berths) is worth the upgrade for the extra space and less noise.
Stopovers Worth It: - Dunhuang: Mogao Caves are 30km from station, hire a taxi - Turpan: Grape vineyards and the Flaming Mountains - Urumqi: Take a day to see Tianchi (Heavenly Lake)
Kashgar: The Sunday market (艾提尕尔清真寺) is chaos incarnate. Everything from livestock to electronics. The old town is being renovated so see it soon.
Tip: Book your beds immediately at ticket opening (15 days before). Popular route!