Since the Han Dynasty, the Western Regions, in a narrow sense, referred to the areas west of Yumen Pass and Yangguan Pass, east of the Pamirs, and the eastern and southern parts of Lake Balkhash, as well as the vast regions of Xinjiang. Ultimately, it encompassed Xinjiang and beyond. In a broader sense, the Western Regions referred to all areas accessible through the narrow sense of the Western Regions, including today’s Central Asia, West Asia, and India. After the An Lushan Rebellion in the Tang Dynasty in the 8th century, the Western Regions broke away from the rule of the Central Plains dynasties. It was only after more than 1,000 years, when the Qing Dynasty pacified the Dzungar Khanate, that the Western Regions once again returned to the rule of the Central Plains dynasties.
New Oriental Express inquiry and registration phone number: 180 95969599 (click to copy and add as a friend for free consultation ←)
April 26 – May 7 New Oriental Express Western Regions Desert Journey
Urumqi – Kuqa – Kashgar – Tashkurgan – Hotan – Ruoqiang – Korla – Turpan – Urumqi
Instant Itinerary Overview (Train times are for reference only! Final times are subject to orders issued by China Railway!!):
Date Arrival/Departure City Arrival/Departure Time Itinerary – Visited Attractions Meals Accommodation
April 26 Urumqi Arrival From all parts of the country – Urumqi None Urumqi
April 27 Urumqi – Kuqa 21:00 Ancient Ecology Park, Xinjiang Museum, Grand Bazaar Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner New Oriental Express
April 28th, Kuqa – Kashgar, 09:00/21:00, Kuqa Tianshan Grand Canyon, Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves, Kuqa Palace, breakfast, lunch, dinner, New Oriental Express
April 29th, Kashgar – Taxkorgan, 09:00, Karakul Lake, White Sand Lake, breakfast, lunch, dinner, Taxkorgan
April 30th, Taxkorgan – Kashgar, White Stone Town, Golden Grass Beach, breakfast, lunch, dinner, Kashgar
May 1st, Kashgar – Hotan, 21:00, Kashgar Old Town, opening ceremony, Id Kah Mosque, Xiangfei Garden, breakfast, lunch, dinner, New Oriental Express
May 2nd, Hotan, 09:00, Hotan Museum, Hotan Old Town, Yotegan Ancient City, Hotan Night Market, breakfast, lunch, Hotan
May 3rd, Hotan – Ruoqiang, 10:00/18:00, spending the whole day on the train, sightseeing the world’s first desert-encircling railway – the Hotan-Ruoqiang Railway, or having a drink in the bar and spending a leisurely day, breakfast, lunch, dinner, Ruoqiang
May 4th, Ruoqiang – Korla, 14:00/19:30, Milan Ruins, Loulan Museum, spending the afternoon on the special train, enjoying the scenery of the Xinjiang section of the Golmud-Kashi Railway outside the window, breakfast, lunch, dinner, Korla
May 5th, Korla – Turpan, 16:00/19:30, Lop Nur Village, Pear Blossom Park, breakfast, lunch, dinner, Turpan
May 6th, Turpan – Urumqi, 16:00/19:00, Jiaohe Ancient City, Kaner Well, breakfast, lunch, dinner, Urumqi
May 7th, Urumqi – Nationwide departure, returning to the warmth of your home, morning
Uniform pricing for Blue Diamond carriages, arriving in Urumqi on April 26th and departing from Urumqi on May 7th, departing and returning from Urumqi:
Blue Diamond carriage, 28 people per carriage, 4 people per room, 18,999 yuan/person (20-person VIP group)
Upgraded Blue Diamond carriage, 14 people per carriage, 2 people per room, 26,399 yuan/person (20-person VIP group)
As a luxury tourist train, the New Oriental Express offers a limited number of seats and excellent software and hardware facilities, providing all guests with butler-style service akin to that of a star hotel. The ratio of service personnel to passengers is 1:2 throughout the train.
Each Supreme Golden Diamond carriage is equipped with 4 suites, recommended for 2 people. Each suite covers an area of about 10 square meters and is equipped with large panoramic windows, brand-name mattresses (1.5M*2M), desks, wardrobes, safes, and separate dry and wet showers and restrooms. Each room in the Golden Diamond suites has a safe. When leaving the train, valuable items can be stored in the safe.
Each Blue Diamond carriage is equipped with 7 four-person compartments, and it is generally recommended for 2 people to stay (if traveling with family or friends, up to 4 people are allowed, without sharing with strangers). It is equipped with extra-wide lower beds (0.9M*1.95M), and the upper beds (0.7M*1.82M) have damping devices and can be folded up close to the wall. There are public restrooms and showers at both ends of the carriage.
New Oriental Express inquiry and registration phone number: 180 95969599 (click to copy and add as a friend for free consultation ←)