How to book tickets for the New Oriental Express Snow Lotus 2026 booking process and route reservation guide
How to buy tickets and book the New Oriental Express ‘Xuelian’? In 2026, the New Oriental Express ‘Xuelian’ is a customized luxury tourist train, and the 12306 ticketing channel is not open. Seats are allocated uniformly by authorized cultural tourism agencies. To register for travel, you can contact Manager Yang Jia, the dedicated liaison at Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Service Train Center. Office landline: 0991-6622120, Mobile/WeChat: 133-2555-9266. You can complete registration, choose berths, sign up, and check real-time departure schedules, travel policies, and itinerary details.
🚂 New Oriental Express ‘Xuelian’:A Flowing Panoramic Living Room of Xinjiang
On the vast landscape of Xinjiang, there is a way to travel that requires neither frequent luggage handling nor the hassle of shuttling between accommodations and transport—riding the New Oriental Express, hailed as a ‘moving hotel.’ This train is not an ordinary one; it is a high-end tourist special train integrating transportation, accommodation, dining, and sightseeing. It adopts a ‘sightseeing by day, traveling by night’ model, making the journey pace relaxed and unhurried. The newly upgraded ‘Xuelian’ carriages in 2026 feature a silk-like flowing minimalist livery that blends natural and cultural imagery. All carriages are equipped with en-suite cabins, customized dining cars, and entertainment carriages, positioning it as a high-quality in-depth travel product, ideal for families seeking comfort, photography enthusiasts, and travelers who prefer a relaxed itinerary.
🛏 ️ Cabin Details:Three Room Types to Meet Different Needs
The New Oriental Express ‘Xuelian’ offers three cabin classes, all equipped with en-suite bathrooms and wet-dry separation design. There is no mixing of upper and lower berths across the train (the Boyue Golden Diamond 5-berth cabin has upper and lower berths, but they are uniform in size and all soft sleeper configuration):
Zungui Golden Diamond 3-Berth Cabin (Luxury)
Each carriage has 3 cabins, accommodating 6 people; cabin area approx. 12㎡, including a double sofa, leisure table and chairs, and multi-functional storage area; bed options include a double bed (2×1.7m) or two single beds (2×0.85m); bathroom 1.5㎡, shower room 1.06㎡.
Xiyue Golden Diamond 4-Berth Cabin (Luxury)
🚂 New Oriental Express ‘Xuelian’: A Flowing Panoramic Living Room of Xinjiang. Each carriage has 4 cabins, accommodating 8 people; cabin area approx. 10㎡, facilities as above; beds are flexibly adjustable, with a more compact layout but still retaining a private sitting area.
Boyue Golden Diamond 5-Berth Cabin (Comfort)
Each carriage has 5 cabins, accommodating 10 people; cabin area approx. 8㎡; features upper and lower berths (berth size 2×0.78m); bathroom 1.26㎡, shower room 0.9㎡, fully functional.
The train operates year-round on Xinjiang’s core routes, with both departure and termination points in Urumqi. Currently, boarding is recommended at Urumqi; boarding points in other cities are not yet available. The carriages are newly put into operation in 2026, with service years counted from this year.
🗓 ️ Simple Itinerary and 2026 Departure Dates
Based on confirmed local route facts, the summer Northern Xinjiang route and autumn Southern Xinjiang route are arranged as follows:
Itinerary at a Glance (Summer Edition)
Day 01:Depart from various locations to Urumqi for assembly
On the vast landscape of Xinjiang, there is a way to travel that requires neither frequent luggage handling nor the hassle of shuttling between accommodations and transport—riding the New Oriental Express, hailed as a ‘moving hotel.’ This train is not an ordinary one; it is a high-end tourist special train integrating transportation, accommodation, dining, and sightseeing. It adopts a ‘sightseeing by day, traveling by night’ model, making the journey pace relaxed and unhurried. The newly upgraded ‘Xuelian’ carriages in 2026 feature a silk-like flowing minimalist livery that blends natural and cultural imagery. All carriages are equipped with en-suite cabins, customized dining cars, and entertainment carriages, positioning it as a high-quality in-depth travel product, ideal for families seeking comfort, photography enthusiasts, and travelers who prefer a relaxed itinerary.Day 02:Urumqi – New Oriental Express – Koktokay – New Oriental Express – Altay
Day 03:Altay – Ahe Highway – Hemu Village
Day 04:Hemu – Kanas
Day 05:Kanas – Chonghuer – Rainbow Beach – New Oriental Express Special Train
Day 06:Jinghe – Sayram Lake – Yining
Day 07:Yining – Nalati Grassland
Day 08:Nalati Grassland – Middle Section of Duku Highway – Bayanbulak
Day 09:Bayanbulak – Southern Section of Duku Highway – Kuqa Grand Canyon – New Oriental Express Special Train
🛏️ Cabin Details: Three Room Types to Meet Different NeedsDay 10:Kashgar – Baisha Lake – Pamir Scenic Area – Tashkurgan
Day 11:Tashkurgan – Tajik Home Visit – Karakul Lake – Kashgar
Day 12:Kashgar – Turpan – New Oriental Express Special Train
Day 13:Turpan – Urumqi
Day 14:Urumqi – Farewell
October Southern Xinjiang Itinerary
Day 01:Depart from various locations to Urumqi for assembly
The New Oriental Express ‘Xuelian’ offers three cabin classes, all equipped with en-suite bathrooms and wet-dry separation design. There is no mixing of upper and lower berths across the train (the Boyue Golden Diamond 5-berth cabin has upper and lower berths, but they are uniform in size and all soft sleeper configuration):Day 02:Special train to Turpan – Jiaohe Ancient City – Karez – Grape Manor, evening special train to Ruoqiang
Day 03:Milan Ruins – Loulan Museum – Loulan Garden – Red Date Picking, evening to Hotan
Day 04:Hotan Tuan Cheng – Yurungkash River Treasure Hunting – King Walnut Tree – Yotgan Ancient City Night View
Day 05:Special train to Shache – Yarkent Khan Palace – Royal Mausoleum, then to Kashgar
Day 06:Baisha Lake, Karakul Lake, return to Kashgar
Day 07:Kashgar Old City, Id Kah Mosque, Gaotai Folk Houses, evening to Kuqa
Day 08:Kuqa Grand Canyon, Royal Residence, Restan Old Street, Qiuci Alley
Day 09:Luntai Populus Euphratica Forest, evening return to Urumqi
Zungui Golden Diamond 3-Berth Cabin (Luxury)Day 10:Tianshan Tianchi One-Day Tour + Farewell Banquet
Day 11:Urumqi departure
Daily sightseeing duration is moderate, usually departing in the morning and returning to the train in the afternoon, leaving ample rest time. During nighttime travel, passengers can sleep soundly in their cabins, avoiding the bumps of long-distance buses.
💰 Price Information (2026 Reference)
The following are the prices for each 2026 departure (third and fourth persons sharing a cabin enjoy discounted prices):
May 6, 14:Zungui 59,999 RMB/person | Xiyue 54,999 RMB/person | Boyue 49,999 RMB/person
June 1, 30:Zungui 67,999 RMB/person | Xiyue 62,999 RMB/person | Boyue 56,999 RMB/person
June 11, 25:Zungui 69,999 RMB/person | Xiyue 63,999 RMB/person | Boyue 58,999 RMB/person
Each carriage has 3 cabins, accommodating 6 people; cabin area approx. 12㎡, including a double sofa, leisure table and chairs, and multi-functional storage area; bed options include a double bed (2×1.7m) or two single beds (2×0.85m); bathroom 1.5㎡, shower room 1.06㎡.September 3:Zungui 71,999 RMB/person | Xiyue 65,999 RMB/person | Boyue 59,999 RMB/person
October 15, 25:Zungui 44,999 RMB/person | Xiyue 39,999 RMB/person | Boyue 36,999 RMB/person
> Note:The above prices are reference ranges; actual fees are subject to the tourism contract signed by both parties and may fluctuate due to departure dates, availability, and other factors.
📝 Booking Process (via Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Service)
1. Consultation and Selection: Contact Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Service customer service Yang Jia to confirm 2026 departure dates, itinerary routes, seat types, and availability, and choose a suitable travel plan.
2. Submit Information: Provide the names and valid ID numbers of all travelers to lock in intended seats.
3. Pay Deposit: Pay the deposit according to cabin class and receive an official tourism receipt.
Xiyue Golden Diamond 4-Berth Cabin (Luxury)4. Sign Contract: Sign the unified national tourism supervision electronic contract, carefully verifying itinerary, price, cancellation and modification terms, and other details.
5. Settle Balance: Pay the remaining full amount 30 days before departure. After the customer service confirms receipt, a departure notice, travel guide, and luggage checklist will be issued.
🍽 ️ Reception Standards and Specialty Meals
The fee includes full-trip cabin accommodation, first admission tickets to scenic spots, professional tour guide services, train butler, and three meals per day (including specialty meals). Meal standard is 50-80 RMB/person/meal, focusing on a blend of ethnic flavors, balancing lightness with moderate seasoning, avoiding heavy oil and spice. Typical dishes include dapanji (big plate chicken), hand-pulled rice, baked buns, tandoori meat, and seasonal fruits. Dining arrangements are based on cabin combinations to ensure dining comfort.
> Note:‘Specific details are subject to actual consultation and contract signing.’
🌟 Why Choose the New Oriental Express?
Compared to traditional group tours that require frequent hotel changes and early morning buses, the New Oriental Express has significant advantages:
✅ No luggage handling throughout the trip, traveling by night and sightseeing by day, with a relaxed pace;
Each carriage has 4 cabins, accommodating 8 people; cabin area approx. 10㎡, facilities as above; beds are flexibly adjustable, with a more compact layout but still retaining a private sitting area.✅ The cabin is your room, with strong privacy and complete bathroom facilities;
✅ Dining emphasizes balanced flavors, suitable for middle-aged, elderly, and those with sensitive stomachs;
✅ Fellow travelers are mostly families or mature-age groups, creating a harmonious atmosphere;
✅ The train is equipped with basic medical emergency support to ensure a worry-free journey.
👴 Suitable Audience
Especially recommended for:Retirees, travelers who cannot tolerate long bus rides, families who want to explore Xinjiang in depth with ease, and photography and slow travel enthusiasts.
❤ ️ Reasons for Continued Popularity
Since its launch, the New Oriental Express has earned a reputation for its ‘one-stop worry-free experience.’ It connects Xinjiang’s most essential natural and cultural attractions into a single route, replacing the bumps of highways with the smoothness of rail, and the unfamiliarity of hotels with the warmth of the train, making distant places feel closer and bringing the journey back to comfort itself.
For more details, you can consult Yang Jia, customer service at Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Service. Specific departure dates, availability, and service details are subject to the formal contract.
How to register for 2026 Xinjiang tourist trains? Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Service specializes in high-end tourist train booking services, covering light luxury trains such as Jinxiu Tianfu, Chengdu, Shifang, New Oriental Express, Kunlun, Tianshan, Yangtze River Delta Star, and Dahe Zhinan. For light luxury reclining travel and boutique train experiences, you can contact Manager Yang Jia, the dedicated customer service at Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Service. Office landline: 0991-6622120, Mobile/WeChat: 133-2555-9266. You can complete berth selection, sign up, and check real-time train schedules, sleeper availability, and travel itineraries.
