Is train travel included in the price?

Yes. All accommodation aboard the Golden Eagle Silk Road Express and all meals from dinner on Day 1 through breakfast on the final day are included, along with wine or local beer, soft drinks, and water with lunch and dinner.

Is this tour guided or independent?

It is fully guided and escorted. MIR provides an experienced Train Tour Manager and local guides for all scheduled off-train tours, plus arrival and departure transfers.

Which train operates this route?

The Golden Eagle Silk Road Express carries passengers from Beijing to Urumqi, with stops for guided visits in Xi'an, Dunhuang, Golmud, Hotan, Kashgar, and Turpan.

What hotel accommodation is included?

Two nights in a top hotel in Beijing and one night in Urumqi. The remaining nine nights are spent aboard the Golden Eagle Silk Road Express.

How much walking is involved?

This is a Level 2: Moderate activity tour. Off-train excursions include city walking tours, a camel ride at Crescent Lake, and visits to historical sites. Specific itineraries vary by day.

What is the activity level for this tour?

Activity Level 2: Moderate. The tour includes guided off-train tours, walking through ancient cities and sites, and experiences such as a camel ride in the desert.

MIR Corporation · Rail Journey

Ancient China by Private Train - Beijing to Urumqi

Silk Road journey by private train from Beijing to Urumqi in 12 days

MIR Corporation's Ancient China by Private Train is a 12-day journey aboard the luxury Golden Eagle Silk Road Express, departing Beijing and concluding in Urumqi. The route follows the historic Silk Road westward, with stops in Xi'an, Dunhuang, Golmud, Hotan, Kashgar, and Turpan. After two nights exploring Beijing's imperial landmarks, you board the private train for nine nights of travel, visiting the Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an, Buddhist caves and desert oases in Dunhuang, and the cultural crossroads of Kashgar. An experienced Train Tour Manager and local guides lead all off-train excursions; meals, wine service, and gratuities are provided throughout. This tour suits repeat rail travelers who prefer a luxury base camp, history enthusiasts drawn to ancient Silk Road sites, and those seeking guided comfort with substantive cultural experiences woven through each day.

What to know before you look closer

Only one departure is currently listed: September 2026. Confirm availability before finalizing travel plans.
Visa fees are not included in the tour price; MIR provides a customized visa application kit but you must pay fees separately.
International airfare to reach Beijing is not included; MIR offers assistance booking custom flights on request.

Day by day

Day 1railovernight: Beijing
Beijing (China) and board the Golden Eagle Silk Road Express
Begin with a two-night stay at a top hotel in Beijing, and connect with fellow travelers at a welcome reception. Head outside the city to take in the majestic Great Wall at Badaling, and back in the capital stroll through the vast complex of the Forbidden City. Cross Tiananmen square and appreciate the beauty of the Summer Palace. Or check out Beijing's more modern architecture including the Olympic Village and the iconic CCTV Tower. Round out the time in Beijing with a traditional Peking Duck dinner before boarding the luxurious Golden Eagle Silk Road Express, where a festive welcome dinner marks the beginning of your rail adventure in style.
Day 2railovernight: Beijing
Beijing (China) and board the Golden Eagle Silk Road Express
Begin with a two-night stay at a top hotel in Beijing, and connect with fellow travelers at a welcome reception. Head outside the city to take in the majestic Great Wall at Badaling, and back in the capital stroll through the vast complex of the Forbidden City. Cross Tiananmen square and appreciate the beauty of the Summer Palace. Or check out Beijing's more modern architecture including the Olympic Village and the iconic CCTV Tower. Round out the time in Beijing with a traditional Peking Duck dinner before boarding the luxurious Golden Eagle Silk Road Express, where a festive welcome dinner marks the beginning of your rail adventure in style.
Day 3railovernight: Aboard the Golden Eagle Silk Road Express
Beijing (China) and board the Golden Eagle Silk Road Express
Begin with a two-night stay at a top hotel in Beijing, and connect with fellow travelers at a welcome reception. Head outside the city to take in the majestic Great Wall at Badaling, and back in the capital stroll through the vast complex of the Forbidden City. Cross Tiananmen square and appreciate the beauty of the Summer Palace. Or check out Beijing's more modern architecture including the Olympic Village and the iconic CCTV Tower. Round out the time in Beijing with a traditional Peking Duck dinner before boarding the luxurious Golden Eagle Silk Road Express, where a festive welcome dinner marks the beginning of your rail adventure in style.
Day 4overnight: Aboard the Golden Eagle Silk Road Express
Xi'an, Dunhuang, Golmud, Hotan
Head west into China's Silk Road history as you explore Xi'an's ancient city walls and the magnificent Terracotta Warriors. At a special Tang Dynasty show, celebrate Xi'an's cultural heritage, pairing authentic cuisine with spectacular music and dance. In Dunhuang, the Mogao Caves reveal Buddhist statues and murals spanning centuries, and a camel ride at Crescent Lake offers a taste of the desert experience of Silk Road merchants. Golmud presents a choice between Chaerhan (Qarhan) Salt Lake and an exploration of the city. Arriving in Hotan, learn about traditional silk carpet manufacture, witnessing the craftsmanship firsthand; and explore ancient Yotkan city by night.
Day 5overnight: Aboard the Golden Eagle Silk Road Express
Xi'an, Dunhuang, Golmud, Hotan
Head west into China's Silk Road history as you explore Xi'an's ancient city walls and the magnificent Terracotta Warriors. At a special Tang Dynasty show, celebrate Xi'an's cultural heritage, pairing authentic cuisine with spectacular music and dance. In Dunhuang, the Mogao Caves reveal Buddhist statues and murals spanning centuries, and a camel ride at Crescent Lake offers a taste of the desert experience of Silk Road merchants. Golmud presents a choice between Chaerhan (Qarhan) Salt Lake and an exploration of the city. Arriving in Hotan, learn about traditional silk carpet manufacture, witnessing the craftsmanship firsthand; and explore ancient Yotkan city by night.
Day 6overnight: Aboard the Golden Eagle Silk Road Express
Xi'an, Dunhuang, Golmud, Hotan
Head west into China's Silk Road history as you explore Xi'an's ancient city walls and the magnificent Terracotta Warriors. At a special Tang Dynasty show, celebrate Xi'an's cultural heritage, pairing authentic cuisine with spectacular music and dance. In Dunhuang, the Mogao Caves reveal Buddhist statues and murals spanning centuries, and a camel ride at Crescent Lake offers a taste of the desert experience of Silk Road merchants. Golmud presents a choice between Chaerhan (Qarhan) Salt Lake and an exploration of the city. Arriving in Hotan, learn about traditional silk carpet manufacture, witnessing the craftsmanship firsthand; and explore ancient Yotkan city by night.
Day 7overnight: Aboard the Golden Eagle Silk Road Express
Xi'an, Dunhuang, Golmud, Hotan
Head west into China's Silk Road history as you explore Xi'an's ancient city walls and the magnificent Terracotta Warriors. At a special Tang Dynasty show, celebrate Xi'an's cultural heritage, pairing authentic cuisine with spectacular music and dance. In Dunhuang, the Mogao Caves reveal Buddhist statues and murals spanning centuries, and a camel ride at Crescent Lake offers a taste of the desert experience of Silk Road merchants. Golmud presents a choice between Chaerhan (Qarhan) Salt Lake and an exploration of the city. Arriving in Hotan, learn about traditional silk carpet manufacture, witnessing the craftsmanship firsthand; and explore ancient Yotkan city by night.
Day 8overnight: Aboard the Golden Eagle Silk Road Express
Xi'an, Dunhuang, Golmud, Hotan
Head west into China's Silk Road history as you explore Xi'an's ancient city walls and the magnificent Terracotta Warriors. At a special Tang Dynasty show, celebrate Xi'an's cultural heritage, pairing authentic cuisine with spectacular music and dance. In Dunhuang, the Mogao Caves reveal Buddhist statues and murals spanning centuries, and a camel ride at Crescent Lake offers a taste of the desert experience of Silk Road merchants. Golmud presents a choice between Chaerhan (Qarhan) Salt Lake and an exploration of the city. Arriving in Hotan, learn about traditional silk carpet manufacture, witnessing the craftsmanship firsthand; and explore ancient Yotkan city by night.
Day 9overnight: Aboard the Golden Eagle Silk Road Express
Kashgar
Explore the cultural crossroads of Kashgar, a vibrant city at the heart of the Silk Road. Visit sacred sites, stroll through historic streets, and savor the distinct Uyghur cuisine.
Day 10overnight: Aboard the Golden Eagle Silk Road Express
Turpan, Urumqi
Visit the ancient city of Gaochang and marvel at the ingenuity of the Karez irrigation system in Turpan. Reflect on the Silk Road's legacy with an engaging lecture before concluding your journey in Urumqi.
Day 11overnight: Aboard the Golden Eagle Silk Road Express
Turpan, Urumqi
Visit the ancient city of Gaochang and marvel at the ingenuity of the Karez irrigation system in Turpan. Reflect on the Silk Road's legacy with an engaging lecture before concluding your journey in Urumqi.
Day 12railovernight: Urumqi
Turpan, Urumqi
Visit the ancient city of Gaochang and marvel at the ingenuity of the Karez irrigation system in Turpan. Reflect on the Silk Road's legacy with an engaging lecture before concluding your journey in Urumqi. Farewell dinner aboard the Golden Eagle Silk Road Express. Overnight stay in cosmopolitan Urumqi.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 1Visit the Great Wall at Badaling, then stroll through the Forbidden City and view the Summer Palace in Beijing.
Day 4Explore Xi'an's ancient city walls and the Terracotta Warriors of the first Qin emperor, followed by a Tang Dynasty show with authentic cuisine and music.
Day 4In Dunhuang, view Buddhist statues and murals spanning centuries in the Mogao Caves and take a camel ride at Crescent Lake in the desert.
Day 9Wander through Kashgar's Old Town and Gaotai folk houses, then visit the Apak Khoja Tomb, a sacred Muslim site.
Day 10Tour the ancient city of Gaochang and examine the Karez irrigation system, an engineering marvel in Turpan.

Included

Accommodation aboard the Golden Eagle Silk Road Express private train.
Hotel accommodation per the itinerary (2 nights Beijing, 1 night Urumqi)
All meals starting with dinner on Day 1 until breakfast on final tour day, including a generous, though not unlimited, allowance of wine or local beer, soft drinks and water with all lunches and dinners.
Arrival/departure transfers, provided you arrive and depart on the tour start/end dates and in the tour start/end cities.
All guided off-train tours per itinerary.
The services of an experienced Train Tour Manager, with local guides for scheduled off-train touring.
Complimentary tea, coffee and mineral water round the clock from your car attendant while on board the train.
All gratuities.
Baggage handling.
Complete pre-departure electronic document that includes detailed packing suggestions, reading list links, country-specific information, maps, travel tips and more.
Customized visa application and instruction kit (please note, visa fees are not included in the tour price).
Electronic final update bulletin, with any late news, updates and important information.
Assistance booking your custom flight arrangements, on request.

Not included

International airfare or surface transport to the point of joining/leaving the tour.
Meals and drinks not specified as included in the itinerary.
Single supplement (difference between double rate and single occupancy rate) if requested or required.
Optional pre- or post-tour extensions.
Expenses incurred as a result of delay, modification, or extension of a tour due to causes beyond MIR's control.
Visa fees, excess baggage charges, airport departure taxes, vaccination and other medical costs.
Travel insurance including cancellation, medical, and evacuation insurance.
Items of a purely personal nature (laundry, telephone, bar account, photography at museums, etc).

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in the price?: Yes. All accommodation aboard the Golden Eagle Silk Road Express and all meals from dinner on Day 1 through breakfast on the final day are included, along with wine or local beer, soft drinks, and water with lunch and dinner.
Is this tour guided or independent?: It is fully guided and escorted. MIR provides an experienced Train Tour Manager and local guides for all scheduled off-train tours, plus arrival and departure transfers.
Which train operates this route?: The Golden Eagle Silk Road Express carries passengers from Beijing to Urumqi, with stops for guided visits in Xi'an, Dunhuang, Golmud, Hotan, Kashgar, and Turpan.
What hotel accommodation is included?: Two nights in a top hotel in Beijing and one night in Urumqi. The remaining nine nights are spent aboard the Golden Eagle Silk Road Express.
How much walking is involved?: This is a Level 2: Moderate activity tour. Off-train excursions include city walking tours, a camel ride at Crescent Lake, and visits to historical sites. Specific itineraries vary by day.
What is the activity level for this tour?: Activity Level 2: Moderate. The tour includes guided off-train tours, walking through ancient cities and sites, and experiences such as a camel ride in the desert.

Similar journeys

Golden Eagle Luxury Trains