Train journey from Ulaanbaatar to Beijing

[doc7austin]

Hi all,

Last week I have completed a rail journey from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, to Beijing, China, with the goal of travelling entirely by train—no buses or taxis. I thought I’d share my experience and welcome any insights or questions from the community.

**Journey Breakdown:**
1. Overnight train: Ulaanbaatar to Hohhot
2. High-speed train: Hohhot to Beijing

The most challenging part was securing tickets for the cross-border Ulaanbaatar–Hohhot train. It took some effort, but I managed to sort it out.

**Goals and Outcomes:**
- Cross the border by train (no road transport): Achieved
- Openable windows on the train in China: Achieved
- Comfortable Ammendorfer (German-made) sleeping car: Achieved
- Private cabin (no shared compartment): Achieved
- Observe bogie gauge change at Erlian: Not achieved

I’ll post more details about the journey soon, as I’m still travelling and not yet home.

I’ve heard some claims of others completing the Ulaanbaatar–Beijing route by train, but later found they used a bus or taxi to cross the border. If anyone has done this route or is planning to, I’d be keen to hear how you managed the border crossing by train and booked tickets for that cross-border train. Any tips or experiences welcome!

Cheers,

 

[MarcVD]

I have done this trip in 2011. Brussels Koln Berlin Warsaw Moscow Ekaterinburg Irkutsk Ulaanbaatar Beijing. We got all our tickets using the Real Russia travel agency, a solution which is not available today because of the sanctions. However, the man is seat 61 explains on his site how to buy tickets in Ulaanbaatar, and what to do if direct trains are full. Don't know whether this is still up-to-date, though

 

[StephenHunter]

How easy is it to get visas for those places?

 

[ainsworth74]

How easy is it to get visas for those places?

Mongolia (for a British citizen anyway) is a stamp on arrival job (and I'd guess a stamp on exit) as you can visit for up to 30 days in a six month period. Visa required for longer or if you're not just visiting as a tourist. China is a proper visa job, apply before you arrive and attend a visa application centre in the UK but I don't have the impression it's particularly tricky beyond dealing with the admin.

 

[doc7austin]

However, the man is seat 61 explains on his site how to buy tickets in Ulaanbaatar, and what to do if direct trains are full. Don't know whether this is still up-to-date, though

Yes, one could take a bus across the border, but that's defeats the purpose of a train trip between Ulaanbaatar and Beijing. Who wants to sit in a bus ?

I really wanted to cross the border by train—no bus or taxi transfers for this journey!

With a mix of persistence and a bit of luck, I managed to book a private cabin, which made the trip so much more comfortable.

I did purchase my ticket in advance, but it involved transferring a fair amount of money via SWIFT from my European bank to a Mongolian account, which felt a bit nerve-wracking.

The Ulaanbaatar–Hohhot train has two travel classes. I opted for the pricier one, which cost about 50% more than the standard class. It turned out the cheaper class was fully booked, but there were still plenty of cabins available in the higher-priced option.

How easy is it to get visas for those places?

So I do not possess British citizenship. Both Mongolia and China have introduced visa-free regimes for my passport (Mongolia in 2013 and China in 2024).

 

[MarcVD]

Just out of curiosity, why could you not observe the bogie swap procedure in Erlian ? We were able to look at everything when we were there 14 years ago...

 

[StephenHunter]

Just out of curiosity, why could you not observe the bogie swap procedure in Erlian ? We were able to look at everything when we were there 14 years ago...

Perhaps the border guards were being snotty.

 

[doc7austin]

Just out of curiosity, why could you not observe the bogie swap procedure in Erlian ? We were able to look at everything when we were there 14 years ago...

... because after the train arrived in Erlian, all passengers needed to disembark for Chinese immigration checks.
After the conclusion of these checks, station staff simply won't allow passengers back onto the platform, where the train is standing (which is to be pushed into the bogie change facility).

 

[MarcVD]

... because after the train arrived in Erlian, all passengers needed to disembark for Chinese immigration checks.
After the conclusion of these checks, station staff simply won't allow passengers back onto the platform, where the train is standing (which is to be pushed into the bogie change facility).

Ah OK, the procedure has changed then. When I was there, we were not asked to leave the train for immigration checks. They just collected our passports and gave them back about one hour later. The only country where I ever had to leave the train for border checks is Turkey.

 

[doc7austin]

When did you cross the Chinese/Mongolian border ?
Both in 2013 and in 2025 passengers had to disembark the train to walk through the Chinese immigration checkpoints.

 

[MarcVD]

When did you cross the Chinese/Mongolian border ?
Both in 2013 and in 2025 passengers had to disembark the train to walk through the Chinese immigration checkpoints.

It was in 2011.