China News Service, Xi'an, September 14 (Reporter Zhang Yuan) On the 14th, the Y499 tourist train slowly departed from Xi'an Station. The train headed west, exited through Horgos Port and headed to Almaty, Kazakhstan. The second China-Central Asia cultural tourism train (Xi'an-Almaty) in 2026 was officially launched, marking a new stage of China-Central Asia cultural tourism train from demonstration operation to normal operation.
This train trip lasts for 15 days and 14 nights in total. The train adopts a full 25T soft-sleeper car bottom, plus two 19K-type high-grade soft sleeper carriages. It is equipped with a variety of room types such as quadruple rooms, double rooms, and double-bed private rooms. Some private rooms are equipped with independent shower toilets. It implements a boutique small-group customized operation model and continues the "car follows people" exclusive travel service. It focuses on the travel concept of "slow travel and deep experience", which eliminates the troubles of repeated transfers and frequent luggage transportation for tourists during long-distance travel.
"The first flight in June this year lasted 16 days and 15 nights. The entire trip was compressed by one day, but all the core check-in points were intact. We combined the feedback from the first passengers and worked with relevant railway departments to accurately map out the operating time, optimize the journey turnover, reduce ineffective waiting on the road, make the journey more relaxed, and leave more time for sightseeing and cultural visits." Lu Xiaohang, engineer of the Passenger Transport Department of Xi'an Railway Bureau, said.
Taking into account the different travel preferences of tourists, this train has two differentiated routes: Line A travels to Kazakhstan, exiting through Horgos Port to Almaty, and experiencing Kazakhstan’s urban scenery and grassland nomadic folk customs in depth. A new point has been added to Xianxinghai Street in Almaty; Line B is a loop within Xinjiang and does not cross the border. It provides one-stop access to core scenic spots in northern and southern Xinjiang such as Kanas, Hemu, Colorful Beach, Sailimu Lake, Nalati Grassland, Duku Highway, and Kashgar Ancient City. The entire line connects the Guanzhong Plain, Hexi Corridor, Xinjiang and the hinterland of Central Asia, integrating natural sightseeing, historical tracing and folk experience.
"I was lucky enough to take the Central Asia cultural tourism train, and enjoy the magnificent mountains and rivers of Xinjiang. I truly felt the vastness of the motherland, immersed in the cultural customs of various ethnic groups, and unlocked the unique exotic scenery of Central Asia. The whole process was healing and shocking." Ms. Meng, who had taken the first train in June, was deeply touched. In June this year, the first China-Central Asia cultural tourism train departed from Xi'an and successfully completed the cross-border journey and returned safely. It accumulated valuable practical experience in cross-border route organization, port customs clearance, cross-border reception, etc., laying a solid foundation for the normal operation of this train.
The train continues to create a "mobile Silk Road cultural living room" and carries out immersive cultural activities during the journey, including intangible cultural heritage handicrafts, ethnic songs and dances, Silk Road ethnic musical instrument experience, traditional Chinese medicine health care experience and many other contents. Coinciding with the Mid-Autumn Festival, the crew team of Xi'an Passenger Transport Section of Xi'an Railway Bureau planned Mid-Autumn themed festival activities in advance. "We organize passengers to make handmade mooncakes on the westbound Silk Road train, talk about the full moon, and enjoy the bright moon with fellow tourists, spending a unique Silk Road Mid-Autumn Festival." said Xu Dongyang, train conductor of the Xi'an Passenger Section of the Xi'an Railway Bureau.
Relying on the increasingly mature operating system, train products will continue to be iteratively upgraded. Zhang Jun, general manager of Xi'an Overseas Tourism Co., Ltd., said: "We will cooperate with the railway department and plan to launch the third China-Central Asia cultural tourism train in late October this year. The itinerary will be upgraded to an in-depth tour of Kazakhstan. Based on the Almaty tour, we will expand more cultural visit points and further enrich the supply of cross-border cultural tourism products."
