Trans-Mongolian Route
The Trans-Mongolian and Chinese route branches out from the main Trains-Siberian route at Zaudinskiy, 8 km away from Ulan-Ude. The distance between Ulan-Ude and the Russian-Mongolian border is 250 km.
The Trans-Mongolian follows an ancient tea-caravan route from China to Russia and further on to Europe. The railway between Ulan-Ude and the border with Mongolia was built in 1940.
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Ulan-Ude: 0 km Ulan-Ude(founded 1666) is the capital of the Buryat Autonomous Republic, which in the 13th - 17th centuries was part of the vast Mongolian Empire. The city is a classic example of the Eastern influence in Russia. Located some 100 kilometers southeast of Lake Baikal, Ulan-Ude is situated on the confluence of the Uda and Selenga Rivers. With a population of upwards of 400,000 inhabitants, the city is Siberia’s third-largest. Ulan-Ude was found in 1666 by Russian Cossacks as a fortress and garrison. It became the capital of the Buryt Autonomous Republic and grew rapidly to become a massive trade center, connecting Russia with China and Mongolia. Ulan-Ude was completely rebuilt after a fire in 1878 and continued to boom through the 19th and 20th centuries when, in 1900, the Trans-Siberian Railway reached the city. Ulan-Ude is a striking example of a melting pot of cultures, with a large population of native Buryats of Mongolian heritage. Closed to foreigners until 1991, the city now boasts a number of multicultural sites. In the city center, travelers can see the world’s largest sculpture of Lenin’s head, weighing in at 42 tons and standing 25 feet tall. The city is also home to several beautiful cathedrals and datsans, or Buddhist monasteries. The Odigitrievsky Cathedral, constructed in 1741, was the city’s first stone building. A bus-ride away, visitors can take in the sites of the Rimpoche Bagsha Buddhist center and the Ivolginsky Datsan. Ulan-Ude is home to several museums, including the Ethnographic Museum, which showcases traditional Buryati yerts and weaves a fascinating account of the peoples’ history. Travelers can also visit the city’s History Museum, Fine Arts Museum, Nature Museum, and Geology Museum. There is much delicious ethnic food to be sampled in Ulan-Ude, with a particular emphasis on Chinese and Mongolian cuisine. The city center also provides a number of pleasant cafes, bars, and clubs. Where to Stay in Ulan-Ude Baikal Plaza 12 Erbanova Street, 670000 Ulan-Ude Centrally-located just a two-minute walk from the city's Central Square, Baikal Plaza offers free Wi-Fi, fitness center, sauna, several restaurants, and cable television. The train station is a 7-minute drive away. The hotel has four types of rooms: Comfort Single Room: $110 per night Comfort Twin Room: $130 per night Junior Suite: $154 per night Suite: $242 per night Ulan Hotel 32 Prospekt 50-letia Оktyabrya, 670034 Ulan-Ude Centrally-located a ten-minute walk to the city center and 2 kilometers from the train station, Ulan Hotel offers free Wi-Fi, flat screen televisions, and 24-hour front-desk service.The hotel has four types of rooms: Economy Single Room: $34 Standard Single Room: $50 Standard Double or Twin Room: $63 per night Junior Suite: $82 per night Geser Hotel 11 Ranzhurova Street, 670000 Ulan-Ude Centrally-located just a two-minute walk from the city's Central Square, Geser Hotel offers free Wi-Fi, 24-hour reception, spa, sauna, fitness center, and traditional Russian restaurant. The hotel features six types of rooms: Standard Single Room: $85 Standard Double or Twin Room: $104 per night Double Room with Italian Furniture: $116 per night Suite: $167 per night Studio Suite: $180 per night Deluxe Suite: $182 per night |
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Zaudinskiy: 8 km Zaudinskiy is a small town with beautiful surroundings in a suburb of Ulan-Ude. It has a large bread factory. The train makes only a stop-over here. A very small town some 20 kilometers from Ulan-Ude, Zaudinskiy offers travelers riveting views of the Russian and Mongolian steppes. Passing through the area, visitors will see herds of grazing cattle and villages with brightly-colored wooden houses. Where to Stay in Zaudinskiy Travelers wishing to stop off in Zaudinskiy can stay in nearby Ulan-Ude. Baikal Plaza 12 Erbanova Street, 670000 Ulan-Ude Centrally-located just a two-minute walk from the city's Central Square, Baikal Plaza offers free Wi-Fi, fitness center, sauna, several restaurants, and cable television. The train station is a 7-minute drive away. The hotel has four types of rooms: Comfort Single Room: $110 per night Comfort Twin Room: $130 per night Junior Suite: $154 per night Suite: $242 per night Ulan Hotel 32 Prospekt 50-letia Оktyabrya, 670034 Ulan-Ude Centrally-located a ten-minute walk to the city center and 2 kilometers from the train station, Ulan Hotel offers free Wi-Fi, flat screen televisions, and 24-hour front-desk service. The hotel has four types of rooms: Economy Single Room: $34 Standard Single Room: $50 Standard Double or Twin Room: $63 per night Junior Suite: $82 per night Geser Hotel 11 Ranzhurova Street, 670000 Ulan-Ude Centrally-located just a two-minute walk from the city's Central Square, Geser Hotel offers free Wi-Fi, 24-hour reception, spa, sauna, fitness center, and traditional Russian restaurant. The hotel features six types of rooms: Standard Single Room: $85 Standard Double or Twin Room: $104 per night Double Room with Italian Furniture: $116 per night Suite: $167 per night Studio Suite: $180 per night Deluxe Suite: $182 per night |
| Sayantuy: 35-36 km The train goes through a little station at Sayantuy and then crosses the west bank of a river and heads to Ubukun. The stop-over is only 2 minutes. A very small town some 40 kilometers from Ulan-Ude, Sayantuy offers travelers riveting views of the Russian and Mongolian steppes. Passing through the area, visitors will see herds of grazing cattle and villages with brightly-colored wooden houses. Where to Stay in Sayantuy Travelers wishing to stop off in Sayantuy can stay in nearby Ulan-Ude. Baikal Plaza 12 Erbanova Street, 670000 Ulan-Ude Centrally-located just a two-minute walk from the city's Central Square, Baikal Plaza offers free Wi-Fi, fitness center, sauna, several restaurants, and cable television. The train station is a 7-minute drive away. The hotel has four types of rooms: Comfort Single Room: $110 per night Comfort Twin Room: $130 per night Junior Suite: $154 per night Suite: $242 per night Ulan Hotel 32 Prospekt 50-letia Оktyabrya, 670034 Ulan-Ude Centrally-located a ten-minute walk to the city center and 2 kilometers from the train station, Ulan Hotel offers free Wi-Fi, flat screen televisions, and 24-hour front-desk service.The hotel has four types of rooms: Economy Single Room: $34 Standard Single Room: $50 Standard Double or Twin Room: $63 per night Junior Suite: $82 per night Geser Hotel 11 Ranzhurova Street, 670000 Ulan-Ude Centrally-located just a two-minute walk from the city's Central Square, Geser Hotel offers free Wi-Fi, 24-hour reception, spa, sauna, fitness center, and traditional Russian restaurant. The hotel features six types of rooms: Standard Single Room: $85 Standard Double or Twin Room: $104 per night Double Room with Italian Furniture: $116 per night Suite: $167 per night Studio Suite: $180 per night Deluxe Suite: $182 per night |
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| Zagustay: 127 km The village is only 6 km away from the large coal mining town of Gusinoozersk. The stop-over is 1-5 minutes. Zagustay, in Buryatia, marks a slight turning point in the Trans-Mongolian Railway’s scenery, shifting from broad, grassy steppes to thick pine and birch woods along Gusinoye Ozero (Goose Lake). Where to Stay in Zagustay Travelers wishing to stop off in Zagustay can stay in nearby Ulan-Ude. Baikal Plaza 12 Erbanova Street, 670000 Ulan-Ude Centrally-located just a two-minute walk from the city's Central Square, Baikal Plaza offers free Wi-Fi, fitness center, sauna, several restaurants, and cable television. The train station is a 7-minute drive away. The hotel has four types of rooms: Comfort Single Room: $110 per night Comfort Twin Room: $130 per night Junior Suite: $154 per night Suite: $242 per night Ulan Hotel 32 Prospekt 50-letia Оktyabrya, 670034 Ulan-Ude Centrally-located a ten-minute walk to the city center and 2 kilometers from the train station, Ulan Hotel offers free Wi-Fi, flat screen televisions, and 24-hour front-desk service.The hotel has four types of rooms: Economy Single Room: $34 Standard Single Room: $50 Standard Double or Twin Room: $63 per night Junior Suite: $82 per night Geser Hotel 11 Ranzhurova Street, 670000 Ulan-Ude Centrally-located just a two-minute walk from the city's Central Square, Geser Hotel offers free Wi-Fi, 24-hour reception, spa, sauna, fitness center, and traditional Russian restaurant. The hotel features six types of rooms: Standard Single Room: $85 Standard Double or Twin Room: $104 per night Double Room with Italian Furniture: $116 per night Suite: $167 per night Studio Suite: $180 per night Deluxe Suite: $182 per night |
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Gusinoe ozero (Goose lake): 129-157 km The train goes along the western shore of Gusinoe Ozero. The town has a Buddhist temple (datsan) built in 1741 which is one of the main datsan in northern Mongolia (although the town is officially part of Russia). The datsan is opened for viewing but the stop-over is only 1-5 minutes. Founded in 1939 and granted town status in 1953, the town Gusinoozersk on the northeastern shore of freshwater Goose Lake has a population of approximately 25,000 people. The town is known primarily for its deposits of brown coal and the related power station. Additionally, the Tamchinsky datsan – an ancient Buddhist monastery – is located near the lake. Where to Stay in Gusinoe ozero (Goose lake) Travelers wishing to stop off in Gusinoe Ozero can stay in Ulan-Ude, approximately 130 kilometers away. Baikal Plaza 12 Erbanova Street, 670000 Ulan-Ude Centrally-located just a two-minute walk from the city's Central Square, Baikal Plaza offers free Wi-Fi, fitness center, sauna, several restaurants, and cable television. The train station is a 7-minute drive away. The hotel has four types of rooms: Comfort Single Room: $110 per night Comfort Twin Room: $130 per night Junior Suite: $154 per night Suite: $242 per night Ulan Hotel 32 Prospekt 50-letia Оktyabrya, 670034 Ulan-Ude Centrally-located a ten-minute walk to the city center and 2 kilometers from the train station, Ulan Hotel offers free Wi-Fi, flat screen televisions, and 24-hour front-desk service.The hotel has four types of rooms: Economy Single Room: $34 Standard Single Room: $50 Standard Double or Twin Room: $63 per night Junior Suite: $82 per night Geser Hotel 11 Ranzhurova Street, 670000 Ulan-Ude Centrally-located just a two-minute walk from the city's Central Square, Geser Hotel offers free Wi-Fi, 24-hour reception, spa, sauna, fitness center, and traditional Russian restaurant. The hotel features six types of rooms: Standard Single Room: $85 Standard Double or Twin Room: $104 per night Double Room with Italian Furniture: $116 per night Suite: $167 per night Studio Suite: $180 per night Deluxe Suite: $182 per night |
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Gusinoe ozero town: 138 km This is a picturesque area with valleys surrounded by mountains. The train travels along the Selenga River and makes a short stop-over in Selendum village. Founded in 1939 and granted town status in 1953, the town Gusinoozersk on the northeastern shore of freshwater Goose Lake has a population of approximately 25,000 people. The town is known primarily for its deposits of brown coal and the related power station. Additionally, the Tamchinsky datsan – an ancient Buddhist monastery – is located near the lake. Where to Stay in Gusinoe ozero town Travelers wishing to stop off in Gusinoe Ozero town can stay in Ulan-Ude. Baikal Plaza 12 Erbanova Street, 670000 Ulan-Ude Centrally-located just a two-minute walk from the city's Central Square, Baikal Plaza offers free Wi-Fi, fitness center, sauna, several restaurants, and cable television. The train station is a 7-minute drive away. The hotel has four types of rooms: Comfort Single Room: $110 per night Comfort Twin Room: $130 per night Junior Suite: $154 per night Suite: $242 per night Ulan Hotel 32 Prospekt 50-letia Оktyabrya, 670034 Ulan-Ude Centrally-located a ten-minute walk to the city center and 2 kilometers from the train station, Ulan Hotel offers free Wi-Fi, flat screen televisions, and 24-hour front-desk service.The hotel has four types of rooms: Economy Single Room: $34 Standard Single Room: $50 Standard Double or Twin Room: $63 per night Junior Suite: $82 per night Geser Hotel 11 Ranzhurova Street, 670000 Ulan-Ude Centrally-located just a two-minute walk from the city's Central Square, Geser Hotel offers free Wi-Fi, 24-hour reception, spa, sauna, fitness center, and traditional Russian restaurant. The hotel features six types of rooms: Standard Single Room: $85 Standard Double or Twin Room: $104 per night Double Room with Italian Furniture: $116 per night Suite: $167 per night Studio Suite: $180 per night Deluxe Suite: $182 per night |
| Dzhida: 210 km This is a little village which was originally built for an airbase. The stop-over is 1-5 minutes. A small village, Dzhida is the home of a large fighter air base. The city’s name is derived from the Buryate word for copper and is sometimes Latinized as Eleagnus. Where to Stay in Dzhida Travelers wishing to stop off in Dzhida can stay in Ulan-Ude, approximately 140 kilometers away. Baikal Plaza 12 Erbanova Street, 670000 Ulan-Ude Centrally-located just a two-minute walk from the city's Central Square, Baikal Plaza offers free Wi-Fi, fitness center, sauna, several restaurants, and cable television. The train station is a 7-minute drive away. The hotel has four types of rooms: Comfort Single Room: $110 per night Comfort Twin Room: $130 per night Junior Suite: $154 per night Suite: $242 per night Ulan Hotel 32 Prospekt 50-letia Оktyabrya, 670034 Ulan-Ude Centrally-located a ten-minute walk to the city center and 2 kilometers from the train station, Ulan Hotel offers free Wi-Fi, flat screen televisions, and 24-hour front-desk service.The hotel has four types of rooms: Economy Single Room: $34 Standard Single Room: $50 Standard Double or Twin Room: $63 per night Junior Suite: $82 per night Geser Hotel 11 Ranzhurova Street, 670000 Ulan-Ude Centrally-located just a two-minute walk from the city's Central Square, Geser Hotel offers free Wi-Fi, 24-hour reception, spa, sauna, fitness center, and traditional Russian restaurant. The hotel features six types of rooms: Standard Single Room: $85 Standard Double or Twin Room: $104 per night Double Room with Italian Furniture: $116 per night Suite: $167 per night Studio Suite: $180 per night Deluxe Suite: $182 per night |
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Naushki: 253/0 km This is a Russian border line where the train stops for 2 or more hours. The stop-over is from 1-3 hours depending on which train. Located near the Russian-Mongolian border, the town of Naushki has a population of approximately 3,500, mostly Buryat, Kazakh, and Russian residents. The surrounding area consists of coniferous forest, with many pines, poplars, birches, cedars, and willows. Where to Stay in Naushki Travelers wishing to stop off in Naushki can stay in Sukhbaatar, approximately 21 kilometers away, or in the larger city of Darkhan, 123 kilometers away. Tansang Hotel Baruun-Urt sum, Sukhbaatar province Centrally-located in downtown Sukhbaatar, the Tansang Hotel offers internet access, laundry facilities, a fitness center, sauna, pub, and restaurant. Most rooms except deluxe and semi-deluxe suites have shared bathrooms. The hotel has 7 rooms and 14 beds. Semi-Deluxe Single Room: $40 per night Semi-Deluxe Twin Room: $50 per night Deluxe Single Room: $60 per night Deluxe Double Room: $70 per night Voyage Hotel 4th bag, Sukhbaatar city, Selenge province Centrally-located in downtown Sukhbaatar, Voyage Hotel offers internet access, laundry facilities, a fitness center, sauna, pub, and restaurant that serves Mongolian, European, and Asian cuisine. Most rooms except deluxe and semi-deluxe suites have shared bathrooms. The hotel has 27 rooms of four types: Semi Standard Twin Room: $30 per night Standard Single Room: $40 per night Public Room w/ Five Beds: $45 per night Deluxe Single Room: $50 per night Comfort Hotel Naadamchidiin Street, Darkhan, Darkhan-Uul Aimag, Darkhan Centrally-located in downtown Darkhan, Comfort Hotel is a member of the Mongolian Chamber of Commerce and offers internet access, cable television, 24-hour front-desk service, and a restaurant. The hotel features five types of rooms: Standard Single Room: $25 per night Standard Double Room: $30 per night Medial Luxury Room: $30-$45 per night Luxury Room: $63-$72 per night Family Room: $68 per night |
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Sukhbaatar: 21km Sukhbaatar was founded in 1940 on the banks of the Selenga and Orkhnon rivers. The town was named after the Mongolian warrior leader Suhbaatar. Today it is the capital of the Selenge Province (aimak) with a total population of 20,000. This is the Mongolian side of the border. All luggage is always carefully inspected by customs officers. Please do not take any photos at this stop, if you are caught, your film and possibly camera will be confiscated. The stop-over is approximately 1,5 - 3 hours depending on the train. Named in honor one of Mongolia’s most important military leaders, Sukhbaatar is situated between the Gobi Desert and the steppes to the east. The surrounding area is also covered with many pines, poplars, birches, cedars, and willows. The population is mostly Mongolian, Buryat, Kazakh, and Russian residents. Apart from beautiful vistas, the area is home to the Amarbayasgalant Khiid, a monastery built between 1727 and 1737 by the Manchu emperor Yongzheng. Several of the monastery’s temples and statues were destroyed by the communists in the 1930s but extensively restored in the 198s with the aid of UNESCO. Where to Stay in Sukhbaatar Sukhbaatar has few hotels, so some visitors may wish to stay in nearby Darkhan, a larger city. Tansang Hotel Baruun-Urt sum, Sukhbaatar province Centrally-located in downtown Sukhbaatar, the Tansang Hotel offers internet access, laundry facilities, a fitness center, sauna, pub, and restaurant. Most rooms except deluxe and semi-deluxe suites have shared bathrooms. The hotel has 7 rooms and 14 beds. Semi-Deluxe Single Room: $40 per night Semi-Deluxe Twin Room: $50 per night Deluxe Single Room: $60 per night Deluxe Double Room: $70 per night Voyage Hotel 4th bag, Sukhbaatar city, Selenge province Centrally-located in downtown Sukhbaatar, Voyage Hotel offers internet access, laundry facilities, a fitness center, sauna, pub, and restaurant that serves Mongolian, European, and Asian cuisine. Most rooms except deluxe and semi-deluxe suites have shared bathrooms. The hotel has 27 rooms of four types: Semi Standard Twin Room: $30 per night Standard Single Room: $40 per night Public Room w/ Five Beds: $45 per night Deluxe Single Room: $50 per night Comfort Hotel Naadamchidiin Street, Darkhan, Darkhan-Uul Aimag, Darkhan Centrally-located in downtown Darkhan, Comfort Hotel is a member of the Mongolian Chamber of Commerce and offers internet access, cable television, 24-hour front-desk service, and a restaurant. The hotel features five types of rooms: Standard Single Room: $25 per night Standard Double Room: $30 per night Medial Luxury Room: $30-$45 per night Luxury Room: $63-$72 per night Family Room: $68 per night |
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Darkhan: 123 km It takes about 8 hours to travel from Sukhbaatar to Darkhan (380 km). This is the second largest city in Mongolia with a population of 95,5 thousand. Darkhan is an urban city. The south part of Darkhan is quite picturesque. The stop-over is 30-50 minutes. Mongolia’s third-largest city, Darkhan has a population of approximately 75,000. The city was founded in 1961 as an industrial center, but the surrounding area consists of vast tracts of parkland and greenery. The city is home to a small Buddhist monastery, the Kharagiin monastery, as well as the Traditional Museum of Folk Art, containing a collection of ethnographic and archaeological artifacts. Darkhan is a major educational center in Mongolia, with ten institutions of higher education. The area has a humid continental climate with warm and humid summers and cold, dry winters. Where to Stay in Darkhan Comfort Hotel Naadamchidiin Street, Darkhan, Darkhan-Uul Aimag, Darkhan Centrally-located in downtown Darkhan, Comfort Hotel is a member of the Mongolian Chamber of Commerce and offers internet access, cable television, 24-hour front-desk service, and a restaurant. The hotel features five types of rooms: Standard Single Room: $25 per night Standard Double Room: $30 per night Medial Luxury Room: $30-$45 per night Luxury Room: $63-$72 per night Family Room: $68 per night Jasper Hotel 8th bag, Darkhan City, Darkhan-Uul Province Opened in 2002 in the city’s center, Jasper Hotel offers free high-speed internet, satellite television, a restaurant, karaoke machine, and billiards. The hotel features six types of rooms: Standard Twin Room: $30 per night Standard Triple Room: $35 per night Semi-Luxury Single: $37 per night Semi-Luxury Twin: $40 per night Luxury Single: $45 per night Luxury Twin: $50 per night Rich Hotel 11th bag, Darkhan City, Darkhan Uul Centrally-located in downtown Darkhan, Rich Hotel offers internet access, telephone service, sauna, and café. The hotel features three types of rooms: Standard Single Room: $20 per night Standard Double Room: $30 per night Standard Twin Room: $35 per night |
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Ulaanbaatar: 404 km Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. Often described as sunny, peaceful and open, Ulaanbaatar is a city of contrast where modern life comfortably blends with Mongolian traditional lifestyle. The capital and largest city of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar has a population of over one million. The city was founded in 1639 at the monastery of Da Khuree, approximately 420 kilometers from its current location. The proclaimed head of Buddhism in Mongolia, Zanabazar, resided in this monastery in the 17th century. Later, in 1778, the monastic center was moved to its current location at the junction of the Tuul and Selbe Rivers due to worsening ecological circumstances. Prior to that date, the city had changed location 28 times and had been called, at various times, Urga, Kuren, Da-Kuren, Kulun, and Bogdiin Khuree. Its present name, acquired in 1924 when the country came to be known as the Mongolian People’s Republic, means “Red Hero”. Today, Ulaanbaatar is Mongolia’s economic, financial, cultural, transportation, and industrial center. It boasts some of the country’s most notable landmarks. MONUMENTS In Sukhbaatar Square, visit the renowned statues of Sukhbaatar and Genghis Khan. The Zaisan Memorial depicts Russians and Mongolians who fought during the two World Wars. MONASTERIES The Gandan Monastery is the city’s largest, constructed in 1727. It is Mongolia’s primary center of Buddhist teachings and has over 150 monks currently in residence. The Choijin Lama Temple was completed in 1908 and showcases religious art and historical articles. The main temple houses an 18th-century statue of the Buddha. MUSEUMS The Natural History Museum was first established in 1924 and houses a diverse array of flora, fauna, paleontology, and geology. The Bogd Kahn Museum, a palace built between 1893 and 1903, offers visitors a look into Mongolia’s political, religious, and artistic history. It houses a variety of artifacts from the 17th- to the early 20th-centuries – from bronze casts and silk prints to scrolls, icons, and royal clothing. The International Intellectual Museum boasts a collection of puzzles, logic games, and souvenirs. Ulaanbaatar has both a thriving nightlife and riveting natural beauty. Hiking, mountain biking, and skiing are popular in the mountains just southeast of the city, while visitors wishing to taste local foods or dance the night away can find plenty to their liking in the city center. Where to Stay in Ulaanbaatar Kaiser Hotel Peace Avenue 10-2B, Sukhbaatar district, 000976 Ulaanbaatar Centrally-located just 5 kilometers from the train station and 1.5 kilometers from the Natural History Museum and other central attractions, the Kaiser Hotel offers free Wi-Fi, televisions, sauna, billiards, and a restaurant serving a variety of European and Mongolian dishes. The hotel offers three types of rooms: Standard Single Room: $65 per night Standard Double Room: $75 per night Luxury Double Room: $95 per night White House Hotel Amarsanaa Street, Ulaanbaatar 210524, Mongolia Centrally-located in Ulaanbaatar’s business and commercial district, the White House Hotel offers free Wi-Fi, televisions, 24-hour front-desk service, and three restaurants. The hotel has 60 rooms of four types: Standard Twin Room: $125 per night Deluxe Twin Room: $147 per night Suite: $147 per night Presidential Double: $200 per night Kempinski Hotel Khan Palace East Cross Road, Peace Avenue, 210646 Ulaanbaatar Centrally-located just a five-minute drive from downtown Ulaanbaatar, Kempinski Hotel Khan Palace is a 5-star hotel that offers free wired internet, televisions, sauna, restaurant, and fitness center. The hotel features five types of rooms: Standard Twin Room: $207-$242 per night Superior Twin Room: $223-$257 per night Superior King Room: $223-$257 per night Junior Suite: $430 per night Executive Suite: $767 per night |
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425-470 km From this point, the train climes uphill, and then slopes down the serpentine of the railway tracks, leaving you with the great opportunity to capture the beauty of this terrane. |
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Choir: 649 km The Chojr station features a statue of VVT Ertvuntz, the first Mongolian cosmonaut. This town was an airbase during the Soviet period. Chojr is right in the middle of the Gobi Desert and has a population of approximately 13,000. The train stop-over is 15 minutes. The capital of the Gobisumber Province, Choir has a population of between 9,000 and 13,000, depending on how much of the surrounding rural area is accounted for. The city is situated within the Choir Depression, a 150 kilometer long and 20 kilometer wide swath of land that has been known for its stores of uranium. Choir is also home to Mongolia’s longest runway, now abandoned, that was built during the Soviet occupation. Choir offers travelers riveting sights of the Gobi Desert. Where to Stay in Choir Bidnii Khad Hotel Khonkhor Khotkhon, 3rd Building, Sumber, Gobisumber Province Built in 2008, the Bidnii Khad Hotel is centrally-located and offers internet access, television, a restaurant, and pub. The hotel features two types of rooms: Semi-Deluxe Twin Room: $25 per night Deluxe Single Room: $30 per night Anoma Hotel This centrally-located hotel offers cable television, a billiard hall, sauna, and laundry service. The Anoma Hotel features three types of rooms: Standard Single Room: $10 per night Semi-Deluxe Room: $15 per night Deluxe Room: $20 per night |
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Dzamin Ude: 1113 km This is the Mongolian border with China. Here you will have to present your customs declaration and immigration forms. The luggage of Chinese and Mongolia traders and foreign travelers is checked more carefully than others. The whole procedure takes 1-1,5 hours. A very small town on the Mongolian border with China, Dzamin Ude (sometimes spelled Zamym-Uud) has a population of approximately 11,000. It is located in the Dornogovi Province of Mongolia, along an old trade route between Beijing and Ulaanbaatar. Where to Stay in Dzamin Ude There is one hotel in Dzamin Ude. Travelers wishing to stop off at Dzamin Ude can also stay in nearby Choir. Khan Shonkhor Hotel-2 Zamiin-Uud Town, Dornogobi Province, Mongolia Built in 2003, this centrally-located, two-star hotel offers cable television, billiards, karaoke, and two restaurants. The hotel features three types of rooms: Semi-Standard Single Room: $30 per night Standard Twin Room: $40 per night Semi-Standard Triple Room: $45 per night Bidnii Khad Hotel Khonkhor Khotkhon, 3rd Building, Sumber, Gobisumber Province Built in 2008, the Bidnii Khad Hotel is centrally-located and offers internet access, television, a restaurant, and pub. The hotel features two types of rooms: Semi-Deluxe Twin Room: $25 per night Deluxe Single Room: $30 per night Anoma Hotel This centrally-located hotel offers cable television, a billiard hall, sauna, and laundry service. The Anoma Hotel features three types of rooms: Standard Single Room: $10 per night Semi-Deluxe Room: $15 per night Deluxe Room: $20 per night |
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Erlyaní (China): from Beijing 842 km At the station, the wheels of the train are changed to fit the Chinese railway tracks. If you will plan to step off the train , it is recommended you grab some warm clothes. The stop-over is approximately 4 hours. Nestled in the Gobi Desert on the border of Mongolia and China, Erlyani (Erenhot) has a population of approximately 16,000 inhabitants. Visitors traveling by train will stop here to wait for train bogies to be changed, as Mongolia and China use different gauges. This stop allows travelers to enjoy some of the city’s paleontological sites, such as the Dinosaur Museum and the massive sculpture of two “kissing” dinosaurs that guard the entrance to the city. In the last 50 years, a wealth of dinosaur fossils have been found near the city – particularly around a salt lake known as Iren Dabasu, where hundreds of bones were located. Erlyani has a cold desert climate, characterized by long, dry, and frigid winters, and short, hot summers. Days are typically clear and sunny. Where to Stay in Erlyani Ruyi International Hotel Yingbin Road, Erenhot 011100, China Kente Hotel No.24 Qianjin Road, Erenhot 011100, China Haifeng Hotel No.2 Xinhua Street, Erenhot 011100, China Beidouxin Business Hotel No.0123 Xinhua Street South, Qianjin Road, Erenhot 011100, China |
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415 km This is where, the train crosses the Great Wall of China for the first time. |
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Datong (China): 371 km This is a large industrial city with a population of over 2 million. The city is known as an industrial center and for coal mines. One of the main attractions is a group of Buddhist cave temples ñ Yungang for Grottoes. However, the stop-over is short - 8 minutes. The second-largest city in the Shanxi Province, Datong has a population of approximately 3 million inhabitants. The city’s history spans 2,400 years, and at one point it was considered the political, economic, cultural, and military center of northern China. Today, Datong is a major coal-mining center and transportation hub. Datong is best known for the Yungang Grottos, a UNESCO World Heritage Site characterized by mountainous caves containing some 50,000 Buddhist statues. The statues and carvings range in size – the largest is a 56-foot Buddha. The city also boasts a number of exquisite monasteries, such as the Hanging Monastery, built in 490 into the side of a cliff face, the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda – China’s oldest wooden structure – and the Huayan Monastery. The city-center has a number of attractions, such as the Nine Dragon Screen, a 600-year-old mural made from glazed tiles, and the Datong Museum, housing cultural and archaeological finds. Datong has several bars and clubs, as well as many outdoor restaurants with authentic food. The Datong Theater is also a popular attraction, hosting performances of the local Jin Opera. Where to Stay in Datong Holiday Inn, Datong City Center No.37 Ying Bin Street, 037008 Datong Centrally-located in downtown Datong and 6 miles from the train station, Holiday Inn, Datong City Center offers free internet, flat-screen televisions, 24-hour front-desk service, an indoor pool, Jacuzzi, fitness center, and several restaurants. The hotel features double and twin rooms: Superior Double or Twin Room: $66-$75 per night Howard Johnson, Jindi Plaza, Datong 88 Pingcheng Street, 037044 Datong Located in the city’s commercial district and 2 miles from the train station, Howard Johnson, Jindi Plaza, Datong offers free Wi-Fi, flat-screen televisions, 24-hour front-desk service, three restaurants, an indoor swimming pool, spa, and fitness center. The hotel features three types of rooms: Deluxe Double or Twin Room: $55 per night Business Double Room: $65 per night Deluxe Suite: $125 per night Great Palace Hotel 452 Weidu Avenue, 037000 Datong This large, centrally-located hotel is 10 kilometers from the train station and offers free internet, flat-screen televisions, 24-hour front-desk service, five restaurants, and a fitness center. Great Palace Hotel features four types of rooms: Business Double or Twin Room: $56 per night Family Suite: $57 per night Deluxe Double or Twin Room: $60 per night Business Suite: $108 per night |
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295-272 km At this point, the train travels along the Great Wall. The best view is around the 284 km mark. This portion of the Trans-Mongolian Railway affords the best views of the Great Wall of China. Spanning tens of thousands of kilometers, the Great Wall was begun in the third century BC, but most of its construction was done during the Ming Dynasty. The Great Wall represents a stone, wood, and brick monument meant to control borders along the Silk Road and to ward off invasions. Its defensive capabilities are bolstered by watch towers, troop barracks, and signaling via smoke or fire. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is a riveting exemplar of architecture, technology, art, and science. |
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Beijing (China): 0 km Beijing is the capital of China, one of the centers of early human civilization. Beijing is China's second largest city, after Shanghai. It is a major transportation hub, with dozens of railways, roads and highways passing through the city. The capital of the People’s Republic of China and a tremendous metropolis with a population of over 20 million, Beijing is the country’s political, economic, cultural, transportation, and educational hub. It is also a major tourist destination, drawing approximately 140 million Chinese tourists and 4.4 million international travelers each year, making Beijing International Airport the world’s second-busiest airport by passenger traffic. One of China’s Four Great Ancient Capitals, Beijing was established over 3,000 years ago and began its flourishing during the Western Zhou dynasty of the 11th century BC. Later, it would serve as the capital of the Liao, Jin, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, and into modern times as the capital of the People’s Republic of China. Further adding to the city’s importance is the fact that archaeologists have found Neolithic settlements and fossils of Homo erectus dating back to 250,000 years ago in downtown Beijing. Shielded by mountains to the north and northwest of the city, Beijing’s climate is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally cold, dry winters. The city offers visitors a wealth of cultural, historical, and culinary treasures, from traditional Peking opera to ultra-modern dance clubs and karaoke bars; from the splendor of the Forbidden City – a complex of 980 palatial buildings – to the bustle of the city streets and markets. MUSUEMS The National Museum of China, established through the merger of two older museums, is located on the eastern side of Tiananmen Square and covers 1.7 billion years of Chinese history. The Capital Museum, located in western Beijing, houses a collection of some 200,000 cultural pieces in its collection. The Beijing Museum of Natural History, China’s largest and most popular natural history museum, houses a collection that spans paleontology, ornithology, fossils, and more. PAGODAS AND TEMPLES The Temple of Heaven, constructed in the early 15th century, is located in southeastern Beijing. The temple grounds consist of a number of halls, mounds, and parklands and are a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. The White Cloud Temple, first founded in the 8th century, is considered one of the “Three Great Ancestral Courts” of Taoism. The Yonghe Temple, located in northeastern Beijing, is one of the world’s largest and most important Tibetan Buddhist monasteries. Where to Stay in Beijing Days Inn Forbidden City Beijing 1 Nanwanzi Bystreet, Nanheyan Street, Dongcheng, 100006 Beijing Centrally-located just a five-minute walk to Tiananmen Square and Wanfujing Street and 1 mile from the National Museum of China, Days Inn Forbidden City Beijing offers free internet, flat-screen cable television, dry cleaning services, and a restaurant. The hotel features three types of rooms: Budget Double Room: $60 per night Deluxe Twin Room: $70-$95 per night Deluxe Double Room: $70-$95 per night Red Wall Garden Hotel – The Forbidden City No.68 San Yan Jing Hutong, East Jingshan Street, Dongcheng District, 100009 Beijing Centrally-located just a ten-minute walk from the Forbidden City and 2.5 miles from Tiananmen Square, Red Wall Garden Hotel – The Forbidden City offers free Wi-Fi, cable television, laundry and dry cleaning services, 24-hour front-desk service, and an on-site restaurant. The hotel features two types of rooms: Deluxe Double Room: $97 per night Deluxe Double Room w/ Mountain View: $114 per night The Emperor Hotel 33 Qihelou Street, Dongcheng District, Dongcheng, 100006 Beijing Centrally-located less than one mile from Wangfujing Street and with a view over the Forbidden City, the Emperor Hotel offers free internet, flat-screen cable televisions, rooftop restaurant, 24-hour front-desk service, fitness center, spa, and hot tub. The hotel features four types of rooms: Superior Double Room: $147 per night Deluxe Double Room: $155 per night Premier Twin or Double Room: $163 per night Junior Suite: $240 per night Liuhe Courtyard Hotel No.3 Liuhe Hutong Er Tiao, Fuchengmen Nei Dajie, Xicheng District, 100034 Beijing Built in 2012 and centrally-located 11 kilometers from the train station and just a ten-minute walk to downtown, Liuhe Courtyard Hotel offers free Wi-Fi, 24-hour front-desk service, and flat-screen televisions. The hotel features three types of rooms: Double Room: $79 per night Superior Double Room: $87 per night Deluxe Double Room: $103 per night Novotel Beijing Xinqiao 1 Chong Wen Men Xi Da Jie, Dongcheng, 100004 Beijing Centrally-located just a five-minute walk from the Beijing Train Station and a twenty-minute walk to Tiananmen Square, Novotel Beijing Xinqiao offers free Wi-Fi, satellite television, 24-hour front-desk service, fitness center, dining options, and spa. The hotel features three types of rooms: Economy Twin Room (no window): $72 per night Standard Double or Twin Room: $95-$108 per night Superior Double or Twin Room: $97-$110 per night |