Heritage · Xian-Kashgar Corridor

New Oriental Express

Chinas most storied luxury train, refurbished in the spirit of the great continental expresses. Walnut-panelled suites, a grand piano bar, and dining that follows the Silk Road province by province.

Suite Categories

Deluxe Suite

Walnut-panelled. Twin or double bed, en-suite with shower. Writing desk, window seat, individually controlled air conditioning.

10 m² En-suite

Presidential Suite

King bed. Separate sitting area with sofa. Full en-suite with rainfall shower and heated towel rail. Bar cabinet. Priority dining reservations.

15 m² En-suite

Imperial Suite

Two-room: bedroom with hand-carved four-poster bed, separate living room. Full bathroom with bathtub. Private dining available. Complimentary Champagne.

20 m² En-suite

Onboard Experience

The Piano Bar

The social heart of the train. Restored grand piano, velvet banquettes, cocktail menu inspired by Silk Road ingredients. Live music most evenings.

Dining

Two dining cars. Silk Road Restaurant: multi-course regionally themed dinners. Garden Car: lighter breakfasts and afternoon tea with desert views.

Observation Lounge

Floor-to-ceiling rear windows for panoramic Gobi views. Regional wines and spirits. Historian gives daily briefings on Silk Road history and archaeology.

Onboard Historian

Silk Road archaeology specialist. Daily lectures in the lounge. Evening talks on Buddhist cave art, ancient trade routes and the cultures of Xinjiang.

Frequently Asked Questions

14 days from Xian to Kashgar, approximately 5,000 km. Train covers ~60% of the route. Remainder includes off-train excursions, hotel stays and a domestic flight back from Kashgar.

Yes. A peaceful city with a long tradition of welcoming travellers. Well-preserved old city and developed tourism infrastructure. Your guide briefs you on local customs.

Modest dress covering shoulders and knees. Women should carry a scarf. Most cultural sites have no formal dress code; comfortable travel wear is appropriate.

Wi-Fi available in hotels and train common areas. Connectivity in the Gobi and Taklamakan is extremely limited. Many guests welcome the digital detox.

Destinations of the Railway

Xian

The ancient imperial capital. Terracotta Warriors, the intact 14km city wall, the Muslim Quarters street food. A city that has welcomed travellers for over 2,000 years.

Hexi Corridor

Where the Yellow River meets the Gobi. Hand-pulled Lanzhou noodles. A narrow strip of fertile land between mountains and desert that carried silk and Buddhism for millennia.

Dunhuang

Mogao Caves: 492 painted grottoes spanning a thousand years of Buddhist art. Crescent Lake oasis surrounded by singing dunes. Lantern-lit dinner at the foot of the sand.

Turpan

The second-lowest depression on Earth. Ancient karez irrigation tunnels, the Flaming Mountains, grape valleys. Uyghur hospitality at its warmest.

Kashgar

Sunday livestock bazaar operating for 2,000+ years. Old citys mud-brick alleys, Id Kah Mosque. Standing at the crossroads of Central Asia.

The New Oriental Express serves our Silk Road Odyssey — 14 days from Xian to Kashgar across 5,000 kilometres of ancient trade routes.

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