South Express Tourist Train Where To Sign Up
Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Service Xiaoxiang Special Train Booking Center Manager Wang Fei: 180-9596-9599 (Copy to add friend for free consultation and detailed route information)
When many people first hear about the ‘Southern Express,’ words like ‘luxury,’ ‘long-distance,’ and ‘Xinjiang Panorama’ come to mind. But when it comes to actually planning the trip, they don’t know where to start:Where is the official website? How to book tickets? How to arrange the itinerary? What is the price range?
This guide starts from the ‘Southern Express Official Website’ entry point to help you sort out the ins and outs of this route, so you can clearly plan a Southern Express trip.
🚂 What is the Southern Express?
The Southern Express is a high-end luxury tourist train operated by Guangdong Tieqing International Cultural Tourism Group Co., Ltd., under China Railway Guangzhou Group Co., Ltd. It has been running since 1999 and is one of the earliest luxury tourist trains in China.
✨ Core Features
One Route, Multiple Scenic Spots:A single route connects multiple regions and attractions without backtracking.
No Self-Paid Expenses Throughout:Typically includes accommodation, most meals, first admission tickets to attractions, and tourist buses, reducing the hassle of on-site payments.
Train Follows Passengers:Adopts a ‘travel by day, rest by night’ model, where you play during the day and rest on the train at night, saving time and energy.
All-Sleeper Train:The train is mainly composed of soft sleepers and hard sleepers, with an environment similar to a mobile hotel, suitable for tourists seeking comfortable travel.
🗺 ️ Route Overview
Classic Routes:Covering the Silk Road, Northern Frontier Scenery, and the Grand Loop of Northern and Southern Xinjiang.
Trip Duration:Typically 14 to 18 days, with a round trip distance of about 12,000 to 15,000 kilometers.
Boarding and Alighting Stations:Flexible and diverse, allowing boarding and alighting in multiple cities such as Guangzhou, Changsha, Wuchang, Xi’an, Lanzhou, Xining, Hangzhou, and Shanghai.
💡 Special Notes
The Southern Express is not a single fixed route but a product series. For example, the early ‘Suishu Special Train for Xinjiang Aid’ and the recent popular ‘Southern Train Xiaoxiang’ both belong to the Southern Express system, but their routes, themes, and configurations differ.
🌐 Where is the ‘Official Website’ Entry Point?
When many people first hear about the ‘Southern Express,’ words like ‘luxury,’ ‘long-distance,’ and ‘Xinjiang Panorama’ come to mind. But when it comes to actually planning the trip, they don’t know where to start: Where is the official website? How to book tickets? How to arrange the itinerary? What is the price range?Strictly speaking, the Southern Express does not have a public ticket sales website for individual travelers. Its tickets are mainly sold through railway travel agencies and are not publicly available on the 12306 official website.
Therefore, finding the ‘official website’ actually means finding a legitimate and reliable booking channel. You can confirm through the following methods:
1. Check the China Railway Group Official Website
Search for ‘Y’-prefix Southern Express train numbers (e.g., Y60, Y412) on the 12306 official website or app to find operational information, but you cannot directly book travel products here.
2. Find a Travel Agency
Consult and book through a qualified travel agency. For example, Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Service offers consultation and registration services for related routes. You can call or add WeChat at 180-9596-9599 (Manager Wang Fei) for detailed information.
3. Identify Legitimate Channels
Legitimate channels will sign an electronic contract supervised by the national cultural and tourism department, provide a clear itinerary and payment receipt, and specify the included costs and responsibilities of both parties.
🗺 ️ Popular Routes:Example: ‘Xiaoxiang’ 18-Day Grand Tour of Northern and Southern Xinjiang
‘Southern Train Xiaoxiang’ is a popular choice in the Southern Express system in recent years, focusing on the ‘Huxiang Culture + Northern and Southern Xinjiang Panorama’ experience. Here is an overview of its 18-day itinerary:
Departure Schedule:Planned for initial departures around May 10 and May 30, 2026 (subject to China Railway Group dispatch orders).
Core Route:Hami → Northern Xinjiang → Yili → Kashgar → Taxkorgan → Korla, connecting landscapes such as the Tianshan Mountains, Tarim Basin, and Kanas Lake, covering about 15,000 kilometers and most of Xinjiang’s essential attractions.
Itinerary Pace:Adopts a ‘9 nights on the special train + 8 nights in high-end ground hotels’ model, achieving ‘train follows passengers.’
🗓 ️ 18-Day Itinerary Highlights Overview
D1:Gather and Depart
Depart from cities such as Guangzhou, Changsha, Xi’an, Lanzhou, and Xining, taking a train or plane to the starting station to assemble.
This guide starts from the ‘Southern Express Official Website’ entry point to help you sort out the ins and outs of this route, so you can clearly plan a Southern Express trip.D2-D3:Departure and First Glimpse of the Northwest
The special train departs, enjoying the northwest scenery along the way. Arrive in Xining or Lanzhou, then explore the plateau scenery or Yellow River culture, and adapt to the altitude.
D4-D5:Enter Xinjiang, First Explore Hami
Arrive in Hami, experiencing the Gobi and oasis of Eastern Xinjiang. Visit historical sites like Karez, and taste specialties like Hami melons.
D6-D8:Northern Xinjiang Scenery
Venture into the Altay region, visiting Kanas Lake, Hemu, and more, enjoying classic landscapes of snow-capped mountains, forests, and lakes.
D9-D10:Yili River Valley
Head to Yili, experiencing the charm of the ‘Jiangnan Beyond the Great Wall.’ Visit Nalati Grassland, Sayram Lake, and more, feeling the vastness of grasslands and lakes.
D11-D13:Southern Xinjiang Culture
Arrive in Kashgar, experiencing the cultural atmosphere of Southern Xinjiang. Visit the old city, Id Kah Mosque, and more. Some departures may arrange a trip to Taxkorgan to experience the Pamir Plateau scenery.
D14-D15:Korla and Return Journey
Visit Korla and Bosten Lake, then return along the same or similar route, ending the Xinjiang segment.
D16-D18:Return to Inland China
The special train continues east or south, passing through Lanzhou, Xi’an, and finally arriving at terminal stations like Guangzhou, Changsha, or Shanghai, ending the trip.
> Warm Tips:The above is an itinerary framework. Specific stops, visit order, and times may change based on actual conditions. Please refer to the final contract and departure notice.
💰 Price Explanation
🚂 What is the Southern Express?The price of the Southern Express varies greatly depending on the route, duration, season, and room type. Below is a reference price range for the ‘Southern Train Xiaoxiang’ 2026 18-Day Grand Tour of Northern and Southern Xinjiang, subject to the contract.
Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Service Tourism Booking and Consultation Center Manager: Wang Fei 180-9596-9599 (Copy to add friend for free consultation and detailed route information)
| Room Type | Reference Price (RMB/person, starting from) | Configuration Description |
| :— | :— | :— |
| Yuanxiang Pavilion Upper Berth | 17,999 | Four-person room without bathroom, economical. |
| Zhengxiang Courtyard Four-Person Room | 42,999 | Four-person room, shared bathroom. |
| Zhengxiang Courtyard Two-Person Room | 45,999 | Two-person room, shared bathroom. |
| Xiaoxiang Mansion Family Room | 62,999 | With bathroom, suitable for families. |
Costs typically include:
First admission tickets and necessary shuttle buses for most attractions listed in the itinerary.
Accommodation on the special train and most meals.
Ground hotel accommodation (usually local four-star or equivalent standard).
Full-trip guide service and onboard medical staff.
24-hour butler service and basic travel photography, etc.
Costs typically do not include:
Round-trip transportation costs to and from the departure city.
Personal expenses and self-paid items not mentioned in the itinerary.
Additional costs due to force majeure factors.
> Note:Prices are for reference only. Actual costs may fluctuate due to factors like departure schedule, berth, hotel, and policies. Always refer to the contract signed with the travel agency.
📝 Registration and Consultation Guide
You can consult and register for Southern Express routes through the following methods:
1. Contact the Travel Agency
Directly contact Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Service for consultation and registration.
Consultation Phone:180-9596-9599 (Manager Wang Fei)
WeChat Consultation:Add the mobile number 180-9596-9599.
2. Confirm Key Information
When consulting, be sure to confirm the following:
Schedule and Price:Departure date, trip duration, room type, and corresponding price.
Cost Details:Confirm the specific items included in ‘no self-paid expenses throughout.’
Contract and Voucher:Confirm that an electronic contract supervised by the national cultural and tourism department will be signed, and obtain the itinerary.
3. Prepare Registration Materials
Typically need to provide name, valid ID number, contact information, boarding city, and room type preference.
4. Arrange Transportation
✨ Core FeaturesAfter confirming the special train itinerary, book round-trip flights or train tickets to and from the departure city, and note the transportation method to the special train’s departure station.
💡 Detailed Cost and Service Explanation
Choosing the Southern Express is not just about buying a train ticket but also selecting a complete travel service.
Cost Inclusions
Transportation:Special train sleeper berths and ground tourist buses.
Accommodation:Accommodation on the special train and ground hotels (usually higher standard locally).
Meals:Most meals on the special train and some ground meals.
Tickets:First admission tickets and necessary shuttle buses for attractions listed in the itinerary.
Services:Full-trip guide, onboard medical staff, and 24-hour butler service.
Service Features
‘Mobile Star Hotel’:All-sleeper train with comfortable carriage interiors; some new models feature bathrooms, smart temperature control, etc.
Elderly-Friendly Design:Equipped with SOS call devices, wheelchairs, crutches, etc., and provides ‘one-on-one’ key passenger services.
Cultural Experience:Some special trains (e.g., ‘Xiaoxiang’) incorporate regional cultural elements, organizing activities like intangible cultural heritage handicrafts and local food tastings.
Safety Assurance:Equipped with professional medical staff and an emergency response mechanism to ensure a safe journey.
Important Notes
Price Fluctuation:Special train prices may vary with seasons and schedules; please refer to the final contract.
Itinerary Changes:In case of weather, road conditions, or other force majeure factors, both parties can negotiate reasonable itinerary changes.
Cancellation and Change Rules:Specific cancellation and change policies follow the ‘Tourism Law’ and are specified in the contract; read carefully before signing.
More travel consultations (Panda Special Train, Tianfu, Chengdu, Anyi, Shifang, New Orient Express, Silk Road Dream, Lindu, Yichun, Kunming, Starlight Lanmei, Gobi Cruise Special Train, New Western Train, New National Train, Tianyuan, Tianshan, Chief National Train, Cross-Province Special Train, New Southern Express, Xiaoxiang, Dahenan, Baiyun, Silver Age Xinjiang Tour, Chao Age Xinjiang Tour Special Train, Sunshine, Shannan, Yangtze River Delta, Muztagh) Special Train Booking Center Manager Wang Fei: 180-9596-9599 (Copy to add friend for free consultation and detailed route information)
