International Trains

China - Laos Trains: D87/ D88 & D86/ D84

Currently, there are 2 pairs of high speed trains, D87/D88 and D86/D84 running between Kunming, the capital city of southwestern China's Yunnan Province and Laos' capital city, Vientiane on a daily basis. The duration is 9.5 - 10 hours, counting in the time used for custom procedures at the border. 

The China - Laos railway project is actually a section of the Kunming-Singapore Railway Project, which is planned to connect Kunming with Singapore, passing through Laos, Thailand, and Malaysia. 
 

Kunming - Vientiane Train

 Open Time: April 13, 2023 for D87/D88; July 18, 2025 for D86/D84
 Speed: 160 km/h (99 mph)
 Running Length: 1,022 km (635 mi)
 Duration: about 9.5 - 10 hours, including the time for custom formalities
 Stations: KunmingKunming South, Yuxi, Puer, Xishuangbanna, Mohan, Boten, Muang Xay, Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng and Vientiane
 

China to Laos Train Schedule

(Last Update on July 21, 2025)
Train No. Departure - Arrival Duration
D87 08:08 - 17:44 9H36M
D86 10:55 - 20:59 10H4M
   

Laos to China Train Timetable

(Last Update on July 21, 2025)
Train No. Departure - Arrival Duration
D88 09:00 - 18:34 9H34M
D84 12:25 - 22:08 9H43M
Note: The schedule is shown by Beijing time.
 

China - Laos Train Ticket Fare

First Class Seat Second Class Seat
D88/D87 CNY 864 CNY 542
D86/D84 CNY 881 CNY 552
 

How to Buy China - Laos Train Ticket: 2 Ways

1. From the international ticket windows at the railway stations including Kunming, Kunming South, Yuxi, Puer, Xishuangbanna and Mohan in China and Boten, Muang Xay, Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng and Vientiane in Laos.
2. Through TravelChinaGuide.com for train D87 and D86, or Laos LCR Ticket App for train D88 and D84.

 Kind Reminders: 
1. Passengers' ID certificates, like passports are needed when purchasing the ticket. 
2. Even if you've bought an e-ticket on the website or via apps, the paper ticket should be collected, by showing the ID certificate used for booking because it will be checked at the departure station, arrival station and the borders when completing the custom procedures. 
 

Laos - China Railway Sections

 Kunming-Mohan: This section is made up of the Kunming-Yuxi Rail Line and the Yuxi-Mohan Rail Line. The former section is 88 km (55 miles) long with a trip duration of 37 minutes. The running speed is 124 mph (200 km/h). The latter section is 507 km (315 miles) with the the allowed top speed of 160 km/h (99 mph).

 Mohan (Boten)- Vientiane: The designed speed is 160 km/h and the length is 422 km (262 miles). Around 165 bridges and 75 tunnels have been built along the way, accounting for about 60% of the overall length, making it a really difficult project. Among the bridges, two super ones run over Mekong River, measuring 1,220 m (1,334 yards) and 1,436 m (1,570 yards) respectively.
 

Other Way to Travel between the Two Countries 

In addition to train, there is a way to travel between the two countries: by air.

It's the fastest way to travel between the two countries. There are direct flights between Vientiane and Kunming and Guangzhou; air travel takes 1.5 hours and 2/2.5 hours respectively; and the ticket price for economy class is around CNY 1,500 and CNY 1,700 respectively.


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

K9795/K9796: Urumqi - Almaty
K9797/K9798: Urumqi - Astana

K19/K20
Beijing - Manzhouli - Moscow

K3/K4
Beijing - Ulaanbaatar - Moscow

Erlian - Ulaanbaatar


 International railways under construction/planning from China to:
- Last updated on Jul. 21, 2025 by Grace Yang -