Trans-Mongolian Route Description

Ulan-Ude, founded in 1666, is the capital of the Buryat Autonomous Republic, which in the 13th - 17th centuries was part of the vast Mongolian Empire. This Buddhist city is a classic example of the Eastern influence in Russia.

This is a village with beautiful surroundings in a suburb of Ulan-Ude. It has a large bread factory. The train makes only a short stop here.

The train goes through a little station at Sayantuy and then crosses the west bank of a river and heads up through Ubukun. The stop is only 2 minutes.

The village is only 6 km away from the large coal mining town of Gusinoozersk. The air is full of coal fumes and coal dust so watch out. The stop is 1-5 minutes.

The train goes along the shore of Gusinoe Ozero. The town has a Buddhist temple built in 1741 which is one of the main datsan in northern Mongolia, although the town is officially part of Russia. The datsan is open to the public but the stop is only 1-5 minutes.

This is a picturesque area with valleys surrounded by mountains. The train travels along the Selenga River and makes a short stop in Selendum village.

This is a little village which was originally built for an airbase. The stop is 1-5 minutes.

This is a Russian border post where the train stops from 1 to 3 hours depending on which train you take.

Built in 1940 on the banks of the Selenga and Orkhnon, this town is the capital of the Selenge Province. This is the Mongolian side of the border. Please prepare your luggage for inspection and don’t take photos. The stop is about 1.5 - 3 hours.

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 is 30-50 minutes.

The capital of Mongolia, founded in 1639, Ulan-Bataar was often moved along the Selenga river through Orhon and Tuul until it gained its present location. The city is strategically located on the great tea route between China, Russia and Europe. The stop is 30 minutes.

At this point, the train begins to travel uphill. Once at the top, when the train starts its way back down, it heads along a twisting section of track and provides a great opportunity for you to take great pictures of the landscape and train itself.

Choir is a small town located in the very centre of the Gobi Desert, and was founded as an airbase by the Soviets. During the train’s 15-minute stop you can admire the interesting architecture of Choir Station and see a statue dedicated to the 15th anniversary of the station, founded as the first major stop along the new Ulaanbaatar Railway.

This is the Mongolian border with China. At this stop, you will have to show 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.

This is the Chinese side of the border. At the station, the wheels of the train are changed to fit the Chinese tracks. If you leave the train, please take warm clothes. The stop is approximately 4 hours.

At this point, the train crosses the Great Wall of China for the first time.

This is a large industrial city with a population of over 2 million. The city is an industrial center and is home to numerous coal mines. One of the main attractions is a group of Buddhist cave temples, the Yungang Grottoes. However, the stop is only 8 minutes.

At this point, the train travels along the Great Wall. The best view is around the 284 km mark.

Beijing is the capital of China, one of the earliest centers of human civilization. This is the end of your journey or perhaps, just the beginning!