TRANSPORTATION
Details of routes, connections, timetables and booking offices are contained in the Practical Information section for each city.
BY AIR
Airphnes link most of the cities along the Silk Road; frequency of flights can vary from several times each day to once a week. Airplanes are the most efficient, comfortable to all of China’s open cities and areas, a list in constant flux but generally expanding.
BY RAIL
The Lanzhou Urumqi rail line was completed in 1963, ending Xinjiang’s economic isolation, with the completion of the railway between Urumqi and Kashgar made the train travel on the Silk Road more extended. So far train tickets are not possible to booked or purchased outside China.Once you are in China you can purchase it easily directly from the main train station (be prepared that you may have to stay in a long line in high seasons.Alernatively, We can book it for you and make it available to you on your arrival.For which you have to pay US$ 6 as a service fee for per ticket.
There are several ticket options are available :
1) Hard Seat – A bald seat, only slightly more expensive than a bus ticket, which is the most crowded, sometimes with unassigned seats unless you buy your ticket at the train’st originating station.
2) Hard Sleeper – A hold sleeper, consisting of open compartmems with six berths, is usually the most difficult to obtain, roughly the cost equals to the one forth of the Airfare for the same distance.
3) Soft Sleeper – is ail enclosed compartment containing four berths similar m Eastern European coaches, The price is roughly equals half the price of the Airfare for the same distance.
Soft Sleepers are not very difficult to purchased as it was before (when you have to obtain special permits to get the Soft Sleeper – as they are reserved for the Government Officials). Still on high seasons seats may seaily sold out.
During the train journey,boiled water and expensive mediocre food are,available on the train; drinks and snacks can be purchased at most station
BY ROAD
Buses, the most inexpensive method of transportation, tend to be slow moving, especially in Xinjiang, where they regularly depart one or two hours behind schedule, or the desert sucks the life out of everything thing that moves or attempts to do so the three-day’ bus ride from Urumqi to Kashgar (with overnights in Korla and Aksu) is highly recommended for the hardy traveller, offering spectacular views of the Hear only Mountains and interesting glimpses of the oasis towns along the northern rim of the Taklamakan Desert. Note that in Gansu, foreigners are required to purchase an insurance policy (Y20 FEC) and to produce the receipt when buying subsequent tickets, Bus company employees are fairly figid about this rule. which seems to be non-existent west of Jiayuguan.
Another option is to hire a land cruiser or mini vail, enabling you to visit sites far from cities or towns that would othervise be inaccessible. Costs can he minimized if you are in a group. Prices should be based on the number days hired and kilometers travelled
