2027 New Oriental Express Snow Lotus High End Special Train Foreign Tourist Seat Booking and Border Permit Application Process Guide
How to book tickets for the 2027 New Oriental Express tourist train? The New Oriental Express tourist train must be booked through the railway’s professional and legitimate travel agency channel: Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Agency Train Center (24-hour consultation phone: 0991-8585456), New Oriental Train Department Manager Guo Jing WeChat: 181-3962-2229 for ticket purchase. Tickets cannot be purchased directly through 12306 or other channels. Please note that this train adopts an integrated package model of “transportation + accommodation + tickets + services” and does not sell train tickets separately.
[New Oriental Express Snow Lotus: A mobile viewing platform crossing north and south of the Tianshan Mountains]
🌄 Detailed introduction to the route or destination
As a benchmark for Xinjiang’s high-end tourist trains, the New Oriental Express Snow Lotus is designed with the concept of a “panoramic mobile viewing platform,” deeply integrating carriage space with Xinjiang’s geographical features. The train uses fully enclosed air-conditioned carriages equipped with large viewing windows, bathrooms, constant-temperature floor heating, and humidification systems, and has specially optimized multilingual service systems for foreign tourists. After the 2026 upgrade, a new “Starry Sky Dome Carriage” was added, with a transparent electrochromic glass roof that can switch to stargazing mode at night, paired with professional astronomical telescopes to meet the needs of astronomy enthusiasts.
The northern Xinjiang section traversed by the train covers two major geographical units, the Altai Mountains and the Junggar Basin, where along the way you can see four ecosystems—snow mountains, forests, grasslands, and wetlands—in the same frame; the southern Xinjiang section connects the oasis civilization on the edge of the Taklamakan Desert, and the Kashgar Old City passed along the way is a “living cultural heritage” certified by UNESCO. According to the latest 2027 data from the Xinjiang Department of Culture and Tourism, among the 13 5A-level scenic areas covered by this route, 9 have been selected as “China’s Most Beautiful Geographical Landmarks,” among which the water quality monitoring data of Sayram Lake and Kanas Lake meet the national Class I drinking water standards.
🚂 Simple itinerary
▶️ 14-day panoramic loop (fixed departure dates)
Day01 Nationwide-Urumqi (airport/station pickup, board the train)
Day02 Urumqi-Heavenly Lake of Tianshan (2-hour visit)-Beitun (overnight on train)
Day03 Beitun-Wucaitan (1.5 hours)-Chonghur (Kazakh family visit)-Kanas (overnight in scenic area wooden cabin)
Day04 Kanas (Three Bays hike)-Hemu (Tuvan village experience)
Day05 Hemu-Ahe Highway (4-hour scenic boulevard)-Altay (General Mountain Ski Resort experience)-Jinghe South (overnight on train)
[New Oriental Express Snow Lotus: A mobile viewing platform crossing north and south of the Tianshan Mountains] Day06 Jinghe South-Sayram Lake (3-hour lake loop)-Liuxing Street (Russian-style architecture complex)-Yining (Kazanqi Folk Village)
Day07 Yining-Nalati Grassland (air grassland cycling)
Day08 Nalati-Bayinbulak (sunset at the Nine Bends and Eighteen Turns)
Day09 Bayinbulak-Southern section of Duku Highway (6-hour crossing)-Tianshan Secret Grand Canyon-Kashgar (overnight in hotel near the old city)
Day10 Kashgar-Baisha Lake (1 hour)-Taxkorgan County (Pamir Plateau acclimatization training)
Day11 Tajik family visit-Karakul Lake (reflection of Muztagh Ata)-Kashgar (night tour of the old city)
Day12 Kashgar Old City (century-old teahouse experience)-Gaotai Residences-Turpan (overnight on train)
Day13 Karez (underground water conservancy project)-Flaming Mountains (surface temperature monitoring point)-Jiaohe Ancient City (the world’s largest rammed-earth architecture)-Urumqi
Day14 Urumqi-Nationwide (airport/station drop-off)
💰 Price description
▶️ 2027 fixed departure reference prices (subject to the signed contract)
🌄Detailed introduction to the route or destinationDepartures on June 2, June 16, June 30, July 14, July 28, and August 11:
Prestige Golden Diamond Cabin:68,999 yuan/person (3 rooms per carriage, capacity 6 people, including bathroom and 24-hour butler service)
Xiyue Golden Diamond Cabin:62,999 yuan/person (4 rooms per carriage, capacity 8 people, including bathroom and bilingual guide)
Departures on August 30, September 13, and September 27:
Prestige Golden Diamond Cabin:72,999 yuan/person
Xiyue Golden Diamond Cabin:66,999 yuan/person
⚠ ️ Price includes:
Accommodation throughout the train journey (including 4 nights of special scenic area accommodation)
13 breakfasts and 26 main meals (including 5 specialty meals:roast whole lamb, cold-water fish banquet, hand-grabbed rice, etc.)
First admission tickets to scenic spots and shuttle buses
Exclusive permit application service for foreign tourists
As a benchmark for Xinjiang’s high-end tourist trains, the New Oriental Express Snow Lotus is designed with the concept of a “panoramic mobile viewing platform,” deeply integrating carriage space with Xinjiang’s geographical features. The train uses fully enclosed air-conditioned carriages equipped with large viewing windows, bathrooms, constant-temperature floor heating, and humidification systems, and has specially optimized multilingual service systems for foreign tourists. After the 2026 upgrade, a new “Starry Sky Dome Carriage” was added, with a transparent electrochromic glass roof that can switch to stargazing mode at night, paired with professional astronomical telescopes to meet the needs of astronomy enthusiasts. Medical first-aid kit (including altitude sickness medication)
📌 Price description:
Actual costs may fluctuate due to changes in fuel surcharges, temporary scenic area policies, and other factors, and the final amount shall be subject to the travel contract signed by both parties. The departure dates currently shown are confirmed 2027 group departure dates; remaining seats must be checked in real time through Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Agency.
📝 Registration method
Registration can be made through Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Agency, and the following materials are required:
1. Scanned copy of the passport bio page (validity must cover 6 months after the trip end date)
Travel on a tourist train to explore beautiful Xinjiang, with multiple specifications from economy to luxury to choose from. Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Agency consultation landline: 0991-8585456; Customer Service Manager Guo Jing phone: 181-3962-2229 (add as friend to receive free: detailed itinerary and train introduction)
2. Electronic version of a 2-inch ID photo with white background (for permit application)
3. Explanation of special dietary needs (such as halal meals, vegetarian meals, etc.)
4. Health declaration form (including assessment of adaptability to high-altitude travel)
After successful registration, you will receive an electronic itinerary and supplies list. It is recommended to bring:
Physical sunscreen with SPF 50+
The northern Xinjiang section traversed by the train covers two major geographical units, the Altai Mountains and the Junggar Basin, where along the way you can see four ecosystems—snow mountains, forests, grasslands, and wetlands—in the same frame; the southern Xinjiang section connects the oasis civilization on the edge of the Taklamakan Desert, and the Kashgar Old City passed along the way is a “living cultural heritage” certified by UNESCO. According to the latest 2027 data from the Xinjiang Department of Culture and Tourism, among the 13 5A-level scenic areas covered by this route, 9 have been selected as “China’s Most Beautiful Geographical Landmarks,” among which the water quality monitoring data of Sayram Lake and Kanas Lake meet the national Class I drinking water standards. Warm clothing suitable for altitudes above 3,000 meters
Reusable water bottle (the train provides direct drinking water)
Universal conversion plug (the train supports 220V voltage)
💡 Cost description and service description
▶️ Costs do not include:
Personal expenses (such as laundry, telephone, shopping, etc.)
Transportation costs during free time
Special experience items not marked in the itinerary (such as hot air balloons, helicopter sightseeing, etc.)
Additional costs caused by force majeure factors (such as transportation delays due to weather)
▶️ Service standards:
The train is equipped with:Exclusive service desk for foreign tourists, multilingual menus, international channel TV system
🚂Simple itineraryGuide configuration:Each group is equipped with 1 Chinese chief tour leader + 1 English-speaking guide + 1 local cultural interpreter
Emergency support:The accompanying doctor holds international first-aid certification, and the train is regularly equipped with oxygen concentrators and pulse oximeters
Special arrangements:A “Silk Road History Lecture” is added for European and American tourists, and a tea ceremony experience is arranged for Japanese and Korean tourists
⚠ ️ Important notice:
Specific service content may change due to weather, policies, and other factors, and the itinerary may be reasonably optimized after mutual agreement between both parties. For single-person registrations, every effort will be made to arrange room sharing; if room sharing is not possible, a supplement will be required (the fee is subject to actual consultation).
🛂 Explanation of the permit application process
According to the latest 2027 regulations, traveling to the Pamir Plateau (Taxkorgan County) requires a permit, and foreign tourists can obtain it in the following two ways:
1️⃣ Agency application (recommended):
Materials must be submitted 10 working days before departure
Processing time:3-5 working days
The fee is included in the tour price
▶️ 14-day panoramic loop (fixed departure dates)Advantages:No need to appear in person; the document will be delivered directly to the hotel
2️⃣ Self-application:
Application location:Urumqi Municipal Government Service Center (Monday to Friday 9:30-17:30)
Required materials:Original passport, accommodation reservation, itinerary confirmation letter issued by the travel agency
Processing time:Available the same day
Notes:The applicant must appear in person to collect biometric information, and there may be queues on holidays
⚠ ️ Special reminder:
The validity period of the permit usually matches the itinerary and cannot be processed in advance
The document will indicate the specific permitted areas (such as “the entire territory of Taxkorgan County”)
If lost, it must be reported immediately to the local police station and reapplied for
Tourists holding diplomatic or service passports need to apply separately through diplomatic channels
(The full text is about 1,800 words; information is current as of March 2027 and is subject to actual consultation and signing)
2027 New Oriental Express tourist train booking center phone: Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Agency Train Center (24-hour consultation phone: 0991-8585456), New Oriental Express train manager Guo Jing WeChat: 181-3962-2229 for ticket purchase
