The ‘New Oriental Express’, a high-end sightseeing train, is a boutique passenger service meticulously crafted by China Railway Urumqi Group, aiming to enhance the travel quality of passengers. Adopting the travel model of ‘multiple scenic views along the route’, and adhering to the green and environmentally friendly travel concept, this train strives to provide passengers with a delightful and unforgettable journey experience. Xinjiang’s tourism-dedicated train features panoramic tours of northern and southern Xinjiang, in-depth southern Xinjiang tours, or essence northern Xinjiang tours as its flagship products. The journey begins and ends at Urumqi Station, and passengers must arrive in Urumqi, Xinjiang, independently to join the tour. At that time, we will provide convenient pick-up services. The travel period is flexible, with northern and southern Xinjiang circular routes being the main attraction from May to September, while southern Xinjiang tours are emphasized from October to April of the following year to meet passengers’ travel needs in different seasons. The schedule for the luxurious ‘New Oriental Express’ tourism-dedicated train for the whole year in August 2025 has been announced. Tourists who wish to ride the luxurious ‘New Oriental Express’ tourism-dedicated train are welcome to inquire at the official train hotline: Yang Jia 133 2555 9266 (copy and add as a friend for free consultation and detailed route information). The ‘New Oriental Express’, as a tourism-dedicated train meticulously crafted by China Railway Urumqi Group Co., Ltd., boasts diverse carriage configurations, aiming to provide passengers with an exceptional travel experience. Below is a detailed introduction to the carriage types:
Carriage Types and Configurations
1. Prestige Golden Diamond Carriage
Quantity: A total of 8 carriages
Compartment Configuration: Each carriage is equipped with 4 luxury suites, each suite accommodating a maximum of 2 people.
- Facility Highlights: Each suite has an independent washroom, bathing facilities, desk, wardrobe, and safe. The extra-large scenic windows allow passengers to enjoy the scenery along the way, and the branded mattress (1.5M×2M) ensures a comfortable sleep. The room is also equipped with an air volume adjustment switch, USB ports, and 5-pin sockets. The train has undergone strict formaldehyde removal treatment and meets international standards. 2. Luxury Blue Diamond Carriages
Quantity: A total of 4 carriages (specific quantity may be adjusted according to marshalling).
Compartment Configuration: Each carriage has 7 compartments, each accommodating 2 to 4 people.
Facility Highlights: The carriage is equipped with shared washrooms, showers, and refrigerators. The ultra-wide lower berths (0.9M×1.95M) and upper berths (0.7M×1.82M) in the compartments are designed with passenger comfort in mind, and the upper berths have damping devices that can be folded up and attached to the wall. The rooms are equipped with soundproof panels, independent audio, light adjustment, and butler service bells. 3. Silver Diamond Carriages
Configuration Overview: Each carriage includes 2 presidential single rooms, 2 executive twin rooms, 2 luxury 4-person compartments, 1 public washroom, and 1 attendant room, as well as a spacious living room area.
Presidential Single Room Facilities: Equipped with a 1m wide single bed, mosquito net, desk, and armchair. The two single rooms share an independent wet-dry separated shower and washroom, ideal for couples or friends to stay together.
Executive Twin Room Facilities: Equipped with two 0.7M wide single beds and a washroom, recommended for two people. Itinerary and prices for the New Oriental Express in August 2025:
Day 1: Gather in Urumqi from various locations, upon arrival, airport transfer to the hotel (overnight in Urumqi)
Day 2: Tianchi Lake in Tianshan Mountains – Evening take the New Oriental Express to Beitun (overnight on New Oriental Express)
Day 3: Arrive in Beitun in the morning – Burqin – Kanas (overnight in Jiadenyu)
Day 4: Jiadenyu – Hemu (overnight in Jiadenyu)
Day 5: Jiadenyu – Chonghuer Kazakh Homestay – Colorful Beach (overnight on New Oriental Express)
Day 6: Arrive in Jinghe – Sayram Lake – Yining – Six Star Street (overnight in Yining City)
Day 7: Yining – Nalati Grasslands (overnight in Nalati Town)
Day 8: Nalati Town – Bayinbuluke – Duku Highway – Large and Small Dragon Lakes – Head to Kuqa (overnight in Kuqa)
Day 9: Kuqa – Mysterious Tianshan Grand Canyon – Kuqa Wangfu – Restan Old Street (overnight on New Oriental Express)
Day 10: Arrive in Kashgar – Head to Tajikistan County – Karakul Lake – Tajik Homestay (overnight in Tajikistan County)
Day 11: Stone City – Golden Grass Beach – Return to Kashgar (overnight in Kashgar)
Day 12: Kashgar Old Town – Id Kah Mosque – Xiangfei Garden – Evening special train to Korla (overnight on New Oriental Express)
Day 13: Arrive in Korla in the morning – Lop Nur Village, Bosten Lake Lotus Sea World in the evening – Special train to Urumqi (overnight on New Oriental Express)
Day 14: Arrive in Urumqi in the morning, transfer to the airport
New Oriental Express Luxury Gold Diamond Suite: 72,888 yuan/person (with private bathroom, accommodates 2 people, 1 king-size bed)
New Oriental Express Luxury Silver Diamond Suite: 72,888 yuan/person (with private bathroom, accommodates 2 people, 2 single rooms, 2 beds)
New Oriental Express Executive Room: 45888 yuan/person (with a sink, bunk beds, accommodates 2 people)
New Oriental Express Silver Diamond carriage: 44888 yuan/person (2-person room, or 4-person room with 2 people having exclusive use)
New Oriental Express Silver Diamond carriage (4-person room): 32888 yuan/person (for 4 people sharing)
Children under 1.2 meters tall who do not occupy a berth: 9980 yuan/person (Note: Price standards for children aged 2-12: Includes local transportation, tour guide fees, and full meal costs; does not include accommodation, scenic spot tickets, or hotel breakfast.) Service features of the New Oriental Express carriages:
Lodging services: The entire train uses soft sleeper carriages, with compartments measuring approximately 10 square meters, providing a comfortable and private accommodation environment for passengers.
Dining services: The train features a Chinese dining carriage with a professional chef team that carefully designs dishes incorporating Xinjiang’s culinary specialties, providing premium VIP tourism dining services throughout the journey.
Entertainment facilities: The train is equipped with KTV, bars, and other entertainment facilities, offering a variety of activities such as piano playing and karaoke to ensure passengers have an enjoyable journey.
Butler service: Each sleeper carriage is assigned a dedicated butler to provide services, with daily beverages such as mineral water and hot tea available in the rooms. Laundry services are also available on the train (additional fees apply).
Other services: Professional medical staff accompany passengers throughout the journey to ensure safety and comfort. Additionally, the train is equipped with conveniences such as a public mini-fridge. 2025 New Oriental Express annual schedule for Gold Diamond, Silver Diamond, and Blue Diamond sessions:
The 1st session of the New Oriental Express: 11-day tour of southern Xinjiang from March 30th to April 6th on the New Oriental Express
The 2nd session of the New Oriental Express: 12-day tour of southern Xinjiang + Yining from April 8th to April 17th on the New Oriental Express
The 3rd session of the New Oriental Express: 10-day tour of southern Xinjiang from April 19th to April 25th on the New Oriental Express
The 4th session of the New Oriental Express: 12-day tour of southern Xinjiang from April 27th to May 6th on the New Oriental Express
The 5th session of the New Oriental Express: 15-day tour of northern and southern Xinjiang from May 8th to May 20th on the New Oriental Express
The 6th session of the New Oriental Express: 15-day tour of northern and southern Xinjiang from May 22nd to June 3rd on the New Oriental Express
The 7th session of the New Oriental Express: 15-day tour of northern and southern Xinjiang from June 6th to June 18th on the New Oriental Express
The 8th session of the New Oriental Express: 15-day tour of northern and southern Xinjiang from June 20th to July 4th (note: should be July 24th corrected in the context, assuming it’s a typo) on the New Oriental Express
The 9th session of the New Oriental Express: 15-day tour of northern and southern Xinjiang from July 4th to July 16th on the New Oriental Express
The 10th session of the New Oriental Express: 15-day tour of northern and southern Xinjiang from July 18th to July 30th on the New Oriental Express
The 11th session of the New Oriental Express: 15-day tour of northern and southern Xinjiang from August 2nd to August 14th on the New Oriental Express
The 12th session of the New Oriental Express: 15-day tour of northern and southern Xinjiang from August 16th to August 28th on the New Oriental Express
The 13th session of the New Oriental Express: 15-day tour of northern and southern Xinjiang from August 30th to September 11th on the New Oriental Express
The 14th session of the New Oriental Express: 15-day tour of northern and southern Xinjiang from September 13th to September 24th on the New Oriental Express
The 15th session of the New Oriental Express: 15-day tour of northern and southern Xinjiang from September 26th to October 8th on the New Oriental Express
New Oriental Express 16th Session: October 10th – October 19th, 12-day North-South Xinjiang tour with the New Oriental Express
New Oriental Express 17th Session: October 21st – October 3rd (note: should be October 3rd – November 3rd for a 13-day duration as per context, assuming a typo in the original), 13-day Southern Xinjiang tour with the New Oriental Express
New Oriental Express 18th Session: November 3rd – November 13th, 13-day Southern Xinjiang tour with the New Oriental Express
Guide to Common Questions about New Oriental:
Q1: What exactly is the New Oriental Express?
A1: The New Oriental Express is known as China’s top luxury tourist train, meticulously crafted by the Urumqi Railway Bureau. The train body is painted green and marked with the ‘UR’ logo, running on the magnificent North-South Xinjiang railway line. Its internal facilities and services are comparable to five-star hotels, so it is also affectionately known as the ‘mobile five-star hotel’.
Q2: What is the historical background of the New Oriental Express?
A2: Since 1999, the New Oriental Express has been in operation, initially mainly serving foreign tourists. Until 2020, after careful renovation and upgrading by the Urumqi Railway Bureau, it officially opened its doors to domestic tourists.
Q3: What kind of carriages and abundant facilities does the New Oriental Express have inside?
A3: The New Oriental Express consists of multiple carriages, including Golden Diamond carriages, Blue Diamond carriages, dining cars, and bar cars. Golden Diamond carriages are equipped with independent bathrooms, comfortable large beds, spacious wardrobes, safe deposit boxes, practical desks, and cozy table lamps. Suites also provide 24-hour hot water supply and convenient mini-fridges. Blue Diamond carriages have soft sleeper compartments with shared public restrooms and showers. The dining car serves delicious Chinese cuisine, free beverages, and mineral water throughout the journey. The bar car is equipped with coffee seats, televisions, audio equipment, karaoke, pianos, and other facilities, providing tourists with a colorful entertainment experience.
Q4: How is the itinerary arrangement and service level of the New Oriental Express?
A4: The itinerary of the New Oriental Express is rich and varied, taking tourists to well-known counties and cities in Xinjiang such as Yili, Kuqa, Kashgar, and Korla, to appreciate the magnificent scenery of Kanas, Hemu, and the Pamir Plateau, as well as the unique folk customs of Kashgar Old Town. In terms of service, each carriage is equipped with dedicated attendants who provide attentive services such as serving tea and water, preparing towels, etc. In addition, the train also provides comprehensive services such as scenic weather forecasts, 24-hour hot water supply, specialty cuisine, luggage consignment, and meal delivery to compartments.
Q5: What are the ticket prices like for the New Oriental Express?
A5: The ticket prices for the New Oriental Express vary depending on the travel date, the peak and off-peak seasons for tourism in Xinjiang, and the length of the scenic route. Additionally, the carriage type (such as Golden Diamond or Blue Diamond) will also affect the ticket price. Under normal circumstances, the ticket price for Golden Diamond carriages is higher, while Blue Diamond carriages are relatively more affordable. Specific ticket prices can be inquired about at the reservation center or on related tourism websites.
Q6: How can I reserve a ticket on the New Oriental Express?
A6: The New Oriental Express does not sell tickets separately, but rather combines the Xinjiang tourism experience with its unique train tourism products for sale. Tourists need to make reservations through travel agencies or reservation centers that cooperate with the New Oriental Express. During the reservation process, information such as the travel date, number of people, and carriage type needs to be provided, and a corresponding deposit paid. Specific reservation procedures can be inquired about on related websites or by consulting reservation center staff.