Silk Road Express
Luxury Sleeper Train
Silk Road Express
Where East Met West: A Luxury Train Journey Along the Silk Road
The Silk Road Express is China's first international luxury train, and it travels one of history's great trade routes. For centuries, camel caravans carried silk, spices and ideas between East and West along this road. In 2027, the train follows their trail on four journeys of 5 to 17 days across northwest China.
Journeys begin in Xi'an, the ancient capital where the Silk Road started, or in Xining, at the edge of the Tibetan Plateau. From there, the train heads west to Chaka Salt Lake, whose still water mirrors the sky, and on to the sand dunes of Dunhuang. Further along lie Turpan, in one of the lowest basins on earth, and Kashgar, deep in Xinjiang, the old crossroads of the caravan trade. The longest journey reaches Tashkurgan in the Pamir Mountains.
The scenery changes with every mile: golden poplar forests in autumn, wide Gobi plains and snowy peaks on the horizon. Distances that once took caravans months now unfold slowly outside your window, one landscape at a time.
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Train Overview
The Moving Masterpiece
The world's first luxury tourist train featuring a fully hand-painted exterior. Created by a team from Tsinghua Academy of Fine Arts, the carriage body is adorned with Han Dynasty cloud motifs, while interiors are designed by HBA. More than transportation, it is a moving palace of Eastern art traversing the Silk Road.
Silk Road Express
Routes
Silk Road Express
Train Details
Nights
Distance
Cabins
Carriages
- Routes
- 9
- Season
- April – December
- Cabin size
- 11–22m²
Silk Road Express
Inclusions & Facilities
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Room
Nightly Bed Turndown Service, Unlimited Mini Bar Access
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Bathrooms
THG Paris fixtures (West Coast & Urban collections) or TOTO smart toilet・ Aesop bath products・ STENDERS bath salts・ Dyson hairdryer・ Hermès tissue boxes・plus dedicated children’s toiletries・trays・tea caddies.
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Transfers
Seamless transfers throughout the journey connect the train, hotels and sightseeing destinations with comfort and convenience.
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Dining
Michelin-styled Culinary Experiences, Authentic Local Dining, Premium Wines & Beverages
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Languages
Our onboard team brings together four nationalities and multiple languages, providing personalised multilingual assistance and dedicated 24-hour butler service throughout your journey. English-Speaking guides is also available throughout the sightseeing.
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Photographer
Our professional photographers capture the highlights of your journey, creating timeless keepsakes of your Silk Road adventure.
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Onboard Luxury Services
Benefit from around-the-clock Suite butler service, daily housekeeping, evening turndown, welcome amenities, panoramic lounge carriage and elegant social spaces.
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Dedicated & Attentive Crew
A dedicated team of destination ambassadors, onboard attendants and local specialists provides attentive, personalised service throughout your adventure.
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Admission Tickets
First-entry tickets to all attractions, all scenic transport, and experiential activities are included.
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VIP Touring Experiences
Benefit from priority access, VIP reception, exclusive cultural experiences and specially curated activities* designed to make every destination more rewarding. *Available at selected participating attractions.
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Not included
Round-trip flights, single room supplements, and personal extensions. Expenses from flight delays or force majeure are also excluded.
Silk Road Express
Train Map & Sections
deluxe suite, twin · day-time mode
Carriages 2–7 · 20 deluxe suites
Deluxe Suite · Twin
Elegant shared space, ideal for traveling companions. 2 day time single sofas turned into two single beds at night. Private bathroom laid out with toilets, wash bassin and a large shower. Minibar included.
Suite details
- Suites
- 20
- Suite size
- 11 m²
- Bathroom
- Private, 2.5 m²
- Seating
- 2 single armchairs
- Armchair
- 66.5 × 40 cm
Bathroom & amenities
- 2.5 m² private bathroom with separate wet and dry areas
- TOTO smart toilet
- Aesop bath products, Dyson hairdryer and children’s toiletries
- Serta bedding and a DOMETIC drawer refrigerator
silk road kitchen · dining carriage
Carriages 8–9 · Dining carriages
Silk Road Kitchen & Lumen
Silk Road Kitchen is a vibrant expression of Chinese cuisine shaped by the flavours, ingredients and culinary traditions encountered along the Silk Road. Warm, convivial and open-kitchen led, it brings guests closer to the craft and energy behind every dish. Lumen is the train’s cosmopolitan dining room: a quietly glamorous space where international cuisine meets the romance of rail travel. Guided by the shifting light, the experience feels composed, intimate and effortlessly social, with an open kitchen at its centre.
Dining carriages
- Carriages
- 8-9
- Cuisine
- Chinese & international
On the table
- Antique British silverware
- Bespoke Jingdezhen porcelain
- Alain Saint-Joanis cutlery
- Nachtmann crystal glassware
star palace lounge carriage
Carriage 10 · Lounge & guest entrance
Star Palace Lounge Carriage
The Star Palace Lounge offers a relaxed and elegant setting to unwind during the journey. Enjoy handcrafted cocktails, connect with fellow travellers and watch the landscapes unfold beyond the window as the train travels through China. Design inspired by Han Dynasty ceremonial carriages, featuring a distinctive double-door entrance. Expansive social space for like-minded travelers
Good to know
- Guest entrance
- Double doors
- Piano
- Blüthner, Germany
- Evenings
- Cocktails & salons
deluxe suite, king · day-time mode
Carriages 11–12 · 8 deluxe suites
Deluxe Suite · King
A daytime two-seater sofa that your butler turns into a large double bed each evening. Private bathroom laid out with toilets, wash bassin and a large shower. Minibar included.
Suite details
- Suites
- 8
- Suite size
- 11 m²
- Bathroom
- Private, 2.5 m²
- Sofa
- 2-seater
- Sofa size
- 170 × 73 cm
Bathroom & amenities
- 2.5 m² private bathroom with separate wet and dry areas
- TOTO smart toilet
- Aesop bath products, Dyson hairdryer and children’s toiletries
- Serta bedding and a DOMETIC drawer refrigerator
deluxe suite, family · day-time mode
Carriages 15–16 · 8 deluxe suites
Deluxe Suite · Family
A two-seater sofa and space for a child to play by day. Large bed and a dedicated child's bed by night, arranged by your butler in the evening. Private bathroom laid out with toilets, wash bassin and a large shower. Minibar included.
Suite details
- Suites
- 8
- Suite size
- 11 m²
- Bathroom
- Private, 2.5 m²
- Sofa
- 2-seater
- Sofa size
- 170 × 73 cm
Bathroom & amenities
- 2.5 m² private bathroom with separate wet and dry areas
- TOTO smart toilet
- Aesop bath products, Dyson hairdryer and children’s toiletries
- Serta bedding and a DOMETIC drawer refrigerator
grand suite · bedroom
Carriage 17 · 2 grand suites
Grand Suite
A separate bedroom, and an expansive bathroom with a double washing bassin and a bathtub set against the window. Every meal can be taken in the suite whenever you prefer it. Laundry and mini bar are included.
Suite details
- Suites
- 2
- Suite size
- 22 m²
- Bed
- King, 1.8 × 2 m
- Sofa
- 2-seater, 200 × 73 cm
Bathroom & amenities
- Large bathroom with double vanity and window-side bathtub
- THG Paris fixtures
- Aesop bath products, STENDERS bath salts and a Dyson hairdryer
- In-suite dining for breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Hermès tissue boxes, trays and tea caddies
- Complimentary laundry allowance; your butler has the details
the han observation carriage · by day
Carriage 18 · Observation & leisure
The Han Observation Carriage
A panoramic space inspired by the cultural legacy of the Han Dynasty, where guests can observe the changing landscapes of the Silk Road by day and settle into an immersive evening atmosphere after dark.
Good to know
- Windows
- 270° panoramic
- By day
- Observation gallery
- By night
- Cinema
- Leisure
- Karaoke · cigars · mahjong
Private leisure spaces
- The Karaoke & Cigar Room
- The Four Winds mahjong area
- One free hour of karaoke and one at the mahjong tables for every suite
Silk Road Express
Room Types
Grand Suites
- 2 Cabins
- 22 m²
- King Bed
Separate living area, window-side bathtub, double vanity, with in-suite dining service.
A separate bedroom, and an expansive bathroom with a double washing bassin and a bathtub set against the window. Every meal can be taken in the suite whenever you prefer it. Laundry and mini bar are included.
Deluxe Suite King
- 8 Cabins
- 11 m²
- King Bed
Refined comfort - by day a space for views and conversation, by night a restful retreat.
A daytime two-seater sofa that your butler turns into a large double bed each evening. Private bathroom laid out with toilets, wash bassin and a large shower. Minibar included.
Deluxe Suite Family
- 8 Cabins
- 11 m²
- King Bed + Child Bed
A child’s bed is thoughtfully provided, allowing families to share warm and effortless moments.
A two-seater sofa and space for a child to play by day. Large bed and a dedicated child's bed by night, arranged by your butler in the evening. Private bathroom laid out with toilets, wash bassin and a large shower. Minibar included.
Deluxe Suite Twin
- 20 Cabins
- 11 m²
- 2 Single Beds
Elegant shared space, ideal for traveling companions.
Two day time single sofas turned into two single beds at night. Private bathroom laid out with toilets, wash bassin and a large shower. Minibar included.
Silk Road Express
Recommended Journeys
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Golden Autumn: Xining to Kashgar
Seven days by luxury train along the Silk Road, from Turpan's ancient ruins to Xinjiang's golden poplar forests.
Details: Golden Autumn: Xining to Kashgar -
Hidden Wonders of Southwest China
Four days by luxury train from Kunming to Shenzhen, with Wanfenglin's karst peaks and Detian Waterfall by bamboo raft.
Details: Hidden Wonders of Southwest China
