The Y961 train is not a dedicated southern Xinjiang tourist train. It mainly has two operating directions:?
Xining to Chaka Tourist Train: The Y961/2 tourist train is operated by China Railway Qinghai-Tibet Group Co., Ltd. Since 2016, it has been a tourist train running between Xining and Chaka during the peak tourist season each year, known as the ‘Mirror of the Sky’ tourist train. The train departs from Xining Station at 8:25 every day and arrives at Chaka Station at 12:23; it departs from Chaka Station at 16:30 on the same day and returns to Xining Station at 20:43. The one-way ticket price is 62.5 yuan.?
Hotan to Aksu (or other destinations) train: In another timetable information, Y961 is an express train departing from Hotan, passing through multiple stations, and finally arriving in Aksu, with a total journey time of about 22 hours.?
Regarding the southern Xinjiang tourist train, in 2025, Xinjiang Railway Tourism Train specially launched various tourist train packages such as the Xingjiang-hao Duku Southern Xinjiang Tourist Train, but did not mention Y961 as a southern Xinjiang tourist train.?
Therefore, when planning a trip, please be sure to carefully check the train timetable and related information to ensure the accuracy of your itinerary.?