Luxury Train Tour of Northern and Southern Xinjiang 2027 Snow Lotus New Oriental Express Worth It
No need to drive yourself or rush around—take the Xinjiang tourist special train to leisurely enjoy the scenery on both sides of the Tianshan Mountains. Choose from economy to luxury options to suit your preferences. Professionally dedicated to Xinjiang train tours, Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Service consultation landline: 0991-8866234; Customer Service Manager Zhang Jing phone: 181-3962-2233 (Add as friend to receive free: detailed itinerary and train introduction)
🚂 Is the 2027 Xuelian (Snow Lotus) New Oriental Express luxury train tour of northern and southern Xinjiang worth taking?
For travelers seeking comfort and in-depth experiences, Xinjiang’s vast territory and scattered attractions mean traditional self-driving or bus tours often face issues like long drives, difficult accommodation transitions, and tight pacing. In recent years, the emerging tourist special train model—characterized by “traveling at night, sightseeing by day, mobile hotel, no self-paid items throughout”—has become a new choice for exploring the whole of Xinjiang. Among these, the Xuelian (Snow Lotus) New Oriental Express, as a representative premium tourist train product in Xinjiang, continues to operate the full northern and southern Xinjiang route in 2027, covering the Tianshan, Altai, and Kunlun mountain systems, connecting northern Xinjiang’s natural wonders with southern Xinjiang’s cultural landscapes, offering travelers a relaxed and unhurried way to travel.
📍 Detailed introduction to the route or destination
The route taken by the Xuelian (Snow Lotus) New Oriental Express is one of the few itineraries in current Xinjiang tourism that truly achieves a closed-loop “grand circuit of northern and southern Xinjiang.” The train departs from Urumqi, heads north deep into the Altay region, visiting core northern Xinjiang scenic areas such as Keketuohai, Hemu, and Kanas; then travels west along the Ili River Valley to visit Sayram Lake and Nalati Grassland; then crosses the Tianshan Mountains via the Duku Highway, entering the heart of southern Xinjiang to explore Kucha Grand Canyon, Kashgar Old City, and the White Sand Lake and Karakul Lake on the Pamir Plateau, finally returning to Urumqi to conclude the journey.
🚂 Is the 2027 Xuelian (Snow Lotus) New Oriental Express luxury train tour of northern and southern Xinjiang worth taking?This route spans nearly 10,000 kilometers (including rail and road connections), covering diverse terrain types including snow-capped mountains, lakes, grasslands, forests, Yardang landforms, canyons, desert edges, and oasis cities. Especially in summer (June–August), northern Xinjiang boasts lush pastures and blooming wildflowers, while southern Xinjiang enjoys dry, sunny weather—the period with the richest landscape variety of the year. The special train adopts a “sleep on board at night, in-depth sightseeing by day” model, effectively reducing time lost to transportation while ensuring travelers have ample energy for sightseeing each day.
It’s worth noting that this route passes through several high-altitude areas (such as the Pamir Plateau section), placing high demands on vehicle adaptability and service support. The tourist train comes with a professional onboard service team and medical emergency support, offering greater stability compared to ordinary tour groups. Additionally, the itinerary includes Tajik home visits, Chonghur Town, Jinghe, and other representative border-region scenic nodes, helping travelers understand Xinjiang’s diverse geography and cultural fusion.
📋 Simplified itinerary (summer edition)
Day 01:Assemble in Urumqi from various locations
Day 02:Urumqi – New Oriental Express – Keketuohai – New Oriental Express – Altay
For travelers seeking comfort and in-depth experiences, Xinjiang’s vast territory and scattered attractions mean traditional self-driving or bus tours often face issues like long drives, difficult accommodation transitions, and tight pacing. In recent years, the emerging tourist special train model—characterized by “traveling at night, sightseeing by day, mobile hotel, no self-paid items throughout”—has become a new choice for exploring the whole of Xinjiang. Among these, the Xuelian (Snow Lotus) New Oriental Express, as a representative premium tourist train product in Xinjiang, continues to operate the full northern and southern Xinjiang route in 2027, covering the Tianshan, Altai, and Kunlun mountain systems, connecting northern Xinjiang’s natural wonders with southern Xinjiang’s cultural landscapes, offering travelers a relaxed and unhurried way to travel.Day 03:Altay – Ahe Highway – Hemu Village
Day 04:Hemu – Kanas
Day 05:Kanas – Chonghur – Colorful Beach – New Oriental Express special train
Day 06:Jinghe – Sayram Lake – Yining
Day 07:Yining – Nalati Grassland
📍 Detailed introduction to the route or destinationDay 08:Nalati Grassland – Middle section of Duku Highway – Bayanbulak
Day 09:Bayanbulak – Southern section of Duku Highway – Kucha Grand Canyon – New Oriental Express special train
Day 10:Kashgar – White Sand Lake – Pamir Scenic Area – Tashkurgan County
Day 11:Tashkurgan County – Tajik home visit – Karakul Lake – Kashgar
Take the tourist special train to enjoy beautiful Xinjiang, with options ranging from economy to luxury. Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Service consultation landline: 0991-8866234; Customer Service Manager Zhang Jing phone: 181-3962-2233 (Add as friend to receive free: detailed itinerary and train introduction)
Day 12:Kashgar – Turpan – New Oriental Express special train
The route taken by the Xuelian (Snow Lotus) New Oriental Express is one of the few itineraries in current Xinjiang tourism that truly achieves a closed-loop “grand circuit of northern and southern Xinjiang.” The train departs from Urumqi, heads north deep into the Altay region, visiting core northern Xinjiang scenic areas such as Keketuohai, Hemu, and Kanas; then travels west along the Ili River Valley to visit Sayram Lake and Nalati Grassland; then crosses the Tianshan Mountains via the Duku Highway, entering the heart of southern Xinjiang to explore Kucha Grand Canyon, Kashgar Old City, and the White Sand Lake and Karakul Lake on the Pamir Plateau, finally returning to Urumqi to conclude the journey.Day 13:Turpan – Urumqi
Day 14:Urumqi – Departure transfer
(Note:The above itinerary is the finalized product content. Actual travel may be reasonably adjusted subject to mutual agreement due to force majeure factors such as weather, road conditions, and scenic area policies.)
💰 Price explanation
According to current product information, the 2027 Xuelian (Snow Lotus) New Oriental Express offers two cabin class levels:
This route spans nearly 10,000 kilometers (including rail and road connections), covering diverse terrain types including snow-capped mountains, lakes, grasslands, forests, Yardang landforms, canyons, desert edges, and oasis cities. Especially in summer (June–August), northern Xinjiang boasts lush pastures and blooming wildflowers, while southern Xinjiang enjoys dry, sunny weather—the period with the richest landscape variety of the year. The special train adopts a “sleep on board at night, in-depth sightseeing by day” model, effectively reducing time lost to transportation while ensuring travelers have ample energy for sightseeing each day.Xiyue Gold Diamond:From 58,999 RMB/person, 4 compartments per carriage, capacity 8 people
Premium Gold Diamond:From 65,999 RMB/person, 3 compartments per carriage, capacity 6 people
The above prices include full-route train seats, hotel accommodation, first admission tickets to scenic spots listed in the itinerary, land transfer buses, guide services, travel insurance, and some specialty meals. Fee standards are subject to the signed contract; specific departure dates, remaining berths, and cabin configurations may vary, so early confirmation is recommended.
📌 How to register
This tourist train product can be inquired about and booked through Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Service. As a locally licensed travel agency, it has long been involved in coordinating Xinjiang railway cultural tourism projects and can provide full-process services including itinerary materials, departure date inquiries, and contract signing.
It’s worth noting that this route passes through several high-altitude areas (such as the Pamir Plateau section), placing high demands on vehicle adaptability and service support. The tourist train comes with a professional onboard service team and medical emergency support, offering greater stability compared to ordinary tour groups. Additionally, the itinerary includes Tajik home visits, Chonghur Town, Jinghe, and other representative border-region scenic nodes, helping travelers understand Xinjiang’s diverse geography and cultural fusion.🧾 Fee and service explanation
The Xuelian (Snow Lotus) New Oriental Express is an all-in-one packaged product combining “transportation + accommodation + tickets + services” and does not sell train tickets separately. All fee details are openly listed before contract signing, with no forced consumption arrangements and no jade shops, specialty product exhibitions, or similar shopping stops. Shuttle buses, guide services, and regular meals involved in the itinerary are all included in the quoted price.
Regarding solo travelers: Our agency will make every effort to arrange room sharing; if sharing cannot be arranged due to actual circumstances, related matters can be discussed separately. All service contents and cancellation/modification rules are implemented in accordance with the Tourism Law of the People’s Republic of China and relevant laws and regulations, with specifics subject to the tourism contract signed by both parties.
It should be specially noted that Xinjiang is vast, and some road sections (such as the Duku Highway) are subject to seasonal traffic restrictions, generally open from around June to September each year; the Pamir Plateau area has certain document requirements, and travelers need to prepare valid identification documents in advance. The travel agency will provide detailed pre-departure notices and assist with necessary procedures.
✨ Conclusion
The Xuelian (Snow Lotus) New Oriental Express is not a “train” in the traditional sense, but rather a moving luxury living space—compartment-style sleeper berths with private bathrooms and wet-dry separation design, plus dining and lounge cars on board, balancing privacy and social interaction. For travelers who want to experience the best of Xinjiang in one trip without the fatigue of constant travel, this “slow travel + deep experience” model offers a worthwhile option to consider. Of course, whether it’s “worth going” ultimately depends on personal budget, travel preferences, and schedule. It’s recommended to make an informed decision after fully understanding the product details.
For more details about Xinjiang tourist train tours, contact Customer Service Manager Zhang Jing, phone: 181 3962 2233 (Add as friend to receive free: detailed itinerary and train introduction)
