About China Expresses

We exist to make China's rails speak English.

For over a decade, we've been the bridge between the world's most extraordinary train journeys and the travelers who dream of taking them.

Our Story

It started with one impossible ticket.

In 2014, our founder spent six weeks trying to book a luxury sleeper on the Qinghai-Tibet railway from outside China. The permits were opaque, the booking systems were in Mandarin, and no operator could answer a simple question in English: what is actually included?

That frustration became a mission. We built China Expresses to be the company we wished had existed. One that curates China's finest tourist trains, sells them as genuinely all-inclusive experiences, and explains every detail in clear, honest English.

Today we partner with five of China's premier luxury trains, host travelers from 38 countries, and have become the reference point for English-speaking luxury rail travel in China. But the principle hasn't changed: if we can't explain it clearly, we won't sell it.

2014Founded

12,000+Travelers Hosted

38Countries of Origin

4.9/5Avg. Guest Rating

Three principles, non-negotiable.

Radical Clarity

Every inclusion, every exclusion, every price. Stated upfront. No asterisks, no surprises at the end. If it's in the journey, it's in the price.

Real Expertise

Our journey designers have personally ridden every route we offer. When you ask a question, the answer comes from experience, not a script.

Genuine Care

A 24/7 concierge, a medical officer on high-altitude routes, and a designer who knows your name. You're never a booking number.

Responsible Travel

We partner with trains that employ local crews, support community-run excursions, and minimise environmental impact on fragile regions like Tibet.

Designers who've been there.

Every journey is crafted by a small team of specialists. Not a call centre. You'll work with the same designer from first question to final farewell.

Liang Wei

Lead Designer · Tibet & Silk Road

15 years guiding on the Qinghai-Tibet line. Speaks English, Mandarin, Tibetan. Has stood at Everest base camp 40+ times.

Sarah Chen

Designer · Yunnan & Sichuan

Born in Kunming, educated in Edinburgh. Specialises in cultural immersion and family journeys across southwest China.

Daniel Foster

Designer · Xinjiang & Northwest

Former BBC travel journalist based in Urumqi for 8 years. Knows every oasis between Turpan and Kashgar.

Working with the rails, not around them.

We hold official operator partnerships with each train in our fleet. Meaning priority suite allocation, direct operational coordination, and access to departures not't available to the general public.

5Train Partners

26Provinces

4Permit Authorities

IATAAccredited

ATTAMember

Let's plan something unforgettable.

Tell us where you'd like to go. A journey designer will respond within 24 hours with a tailored, all-inclusive proposal.

Plan Your Journey →