International Trains

China - Kazakhstan Trains

 China – Kazakhstan Trains have been suspended due to the outbreak of COVID-19 and it is still unclear when they will be resumed. 

Two scheduled pairs of trains, K9795/K9796 and K9797/K9798 ( (Numbered as 53/54 in Kazakhstan) are running between China and Kazakhstan:

K9795/K9796 operated by China run between Urumqi and Almaty (Alma-ata) via Khorgos and Altynkol ports;

K9797/K9798 operated by Kazakhstan run between Astana and Urumqi via Dostyk and Alashankou ports;

In summer, more trains may be operated between the two countries on a daily basis. 
 

Urumqi - Almaty Train

Basic Facts:

Open Date: 1992
Distance: 1,048 kilometers (651 miles)
Ticket fare: CNY 1,041 for a soft sleeper
Via ports: Khorgos Port in China and Altynkol Port in Kazakhstan
Operator: China Railway Bureau
 

Urumqi to Almaty Train Schedule

(Last update on July 10, 2018)
From To No. Duration
Urumqi Almaty K9795 departs on Saturday and Monday weekly and arrives on Monday and Wednesday respectively. 25h45m 
 

Almaty to Urumqi Train Timetable

(Last update on July 10, 2018) 
From To No. Duration
Almaty Urumqi K9796 departs on Tuesday weekly and arrives on Wednesday. 23h31m
 

Urumqi - Astana Train

Basic Facts:

Open Date: 2008
Distance: 1,898 kilometers (1,179 miles)
Via ports: Dostyk Port in Kazakhstan and Alashankou Port in China
Operator: Kazakhstan Railway Bureau
 

Urumqi to Astana Train Schedule

(Last update on July 10, 2018) 
From To No. Duration
Urumqi Astana K9797 departs on Monday weekly and arrives on Wednesday  38h22m
 

Astana to Urumqi Train Timetable

(Last update on July 10, 2018) 
From To No. Duration
Astana Urumqi K9798 departs on Saturday weekly and arrives on Monday 39h39m
 

Ticket Fare of Urumqi - Astana Train

Soft Sleeper Hard Sleeper
In China CNY 955 CNY 597
In Kazakhstan CNY 1,000 CNY 625
 

How to buy tickets

Passengers can purchase, change or refund tickets at ticket window no. 12 in Urumqi Railway Station, or at the Asia - Europe Hotel International Transport Ticket Office. Tickets of K9795/K9796 can also be purchased at ticket window no. 1 in Khorgos Railway Station.
 
For individual passengers, the international train tickets are usually open for sale 30 days prior to departure, but for group passengers over six, tickets are buyable 60 days in advance. When buying tickets, passengers need to provide valid passports and visas.

For K9795/K9796, ticket selling stops 90 minutes before departure. However, for K9797/K9798, ticket issuing stops 2 days before departure.
See details of Purchase an International Rail Ticket
 

General information

K9795/9796:

As the first trains operated between China and Kazakhstan since 1992, K9795/9796 used to run to Almaty via Alashankou, which ran for a distance of 1,359 kilometers (844 miles) and took over 30 hours. Also, passengers needed to transfer to Kazakhstan trains after entering the country. However, since October, 2017, along with the change of rail route, the distance is shortened to 1,048 kilometers (651 miles) and the journey time is greatly reduced to 23.5/25.5 hours. Passengers also do not need to change trains anymore. Five carriages provide 168 soft sleeper berths in total, so passengers had better book tickets as early as possible. This saves a lot of time and all-soft-sleeper trains ensure passengers a more comfortable and pleasant trip.
 

K9797/9798:

K9797/9798 (or no. 53/54 in Kazakhstan) was first opened in 2008. Passengers need to change trains when entering or exiting the border of Kazakhstan. A total of 260 berths are provided for passengers’ convenience, while only 20 of them are soft sleeper berths.
 

Tips:

1. Passengers need to apply for a Chinese or Kazakhstan visa in advance before entering either country.
2. Traveling by China - Kazakhstan international rails provides passengers a good chance to appreciate the scenery along this way. Passengers can not only see the vast desert, but also see many lakes which look pretty beautiful at dawn or dusk.
 
Other International Trains between China and nearby Countries

K23/K24:
Beijing - Ulaanbaatar

K27/K28:
Beijing - Pyongyang

T8701/T8702:
Nanning - Hanoi

4652/4653:
Hohhot - Ulaanbaatar

Z5/Z6:
Beijing—Hanoi

K7023/K7024:
Harbin—Vladivostok

K19/K20
Beijing - Manzhouli - Moscow

K3/K4
Beijing - Ulaanbaatar - Moscow

Erlian - Ulaanbaatar

D887/D888:
Kunming - Vientiane

 International railways under construction/planning from China to:
- Last updated on Sep. 04, 2024 by Gabby Li -
Questions & Answers on China - Kazakhstan Trains
Asked by Hugo from FRANCE | Sep. 04, 2024 04:38Reply
Urumqi - Almaty Train Still closed?
Any news on a possible opening in the next months?

Also, is the train between kunming and vientiane is open?
Answers (1)
Answered by Keith | Sep. 04, 2024 20:09
00Reply


Yes, it's still closed. Kunming to Vientiane train has been in service.
Asked by noorli from MALAYSIA | Aug. 13, 2024 06:35Reply
train to almaty from urumqi (august 2024)
hi. the train still closed? what other option to go to almaty from urumqi? is that possible booking online? thanks in advance for your response. we planned to go to Jan 2025, however that time will be chinese new year.
Answers (1)
Answered by Daniel | Aug. 13, 2024 19:03
00Reply


Yes, it's still closed. You can take a train from Urumqi to Khorgos or Yining, then take a international coach at Khorgos International Coach Station or Yining Bus Station to Almaty. You need to book the train in advance and buy the coach ticket upon arrival.
Asked by Lover from GEORGIA | Jul. 06, 2024 23:27Reply
Reopening trains : Almaty - Urumqi
News about a train between Almaty and Urumqi ?
Thanks
Answers (1)
Answered by Joshua | Jul. 08, 2024 01:42
00Reply


No latest news about the train yet.
Asked by Em from AUSTRALIA | Aug. 07, 2023 01:18Reply
Visa requirements for Urumuqi to Almaty transit
Hi there, if I want to fly to Urumuqi then leave by train to Almaty (transit only, no travel) - as an Australian citizen there is a 72 hour automatic visa for China but is there additional immigration or travel permit requirements if I just want to transit out of the airport and leave by train?
Answers (1)
Answered by James | Aug. 07, 2023 22:40
00Reply


As I know, Urumqi Airport only has 24-hour visa-free transit and there is no 72-hour visa-free transit available. Also, the train from Urumqi to Almaty is not in service recently.
Asked by Qifang from AUSTRALIA | Jun. 03, 2023 17:08Reply
Hi, just wondering if the Kazakhstan to Urumuqi trains have started operating again or in the near f
Answers (1)
Answered by Helen | Jun. 05, 2023 02:26
00Reply


Not yet, and there is no related news about reopening in the near future.
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