Beijing–Ulaanbaatar International Express (K23/K24)

China Railway / Ulaanbaatar Railways (UBTZ)
China
Mongolia
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The Journey

Navigate from Beijing Railway Station to Ulaanbaatar Railway Station across a span of 1553km. This is an overnight service.

Scenery Highlights
  • Glancing views of the Great Wall as you leave Beijing
  • Endless ochre dunes of the Gobi Desert
  • Wide‑open Mongolian steppe and big‑sky sunsets
  • Bogie‑change theatre at Erlian border station — one of rail travel's great practical spectacles
Quick Facts
  • Duration

    31 hours

  • Distance

    1553 km

  • Est. Price

    Approx. US$230–350 per person in sleeper classes, depending on class and agency fees

Official Booking Provider
Classes & Accommodations

Meals: None (restaurant car available for purchase)

Ensuite: No

Meals: None (restaurant car available for purchase)

Ensuite: No

Engine / Locomotive

Diesel-electric locomotives; Chinese DF-series on CR section, Mongolian UBTZ locomotives on broad-gauge section

Locomotive Weight

Varies by locomotive class

Track Gauge

1,435 mm standard gauge (China) / 1,520 mm Russian broad gauge (Mongolia) — gauge change at Erlian/Zamyn‑Üüd

Braking Technology

Compressed air brakes; automatic knuckle couplers

Route Engineering Challenges

  • Gauge break at border: entire train jacked up and bogies swapped (1,435mm → 1,520mm) taking ~3 hours

  • Dual-gauge operation requiring different braking regimes

  • Extreme temperature range: −40°C winter to +40°C summer

  • Long distance across sparsely populated terrain requiring crew change and rest facilities

Operator

China Railway (CR) / Ulaanbaatar Railways (UBTZ) joint service

Route distance

1,553 km

Maximum speed

120 km/h (China), 100 km/h (Mongolia)

Carriage type

CR 25G Chinese sleeper cars + UBTZ Mongolian sleeping cars

Crew change

Chinese crew (Beijing–Erlian), Mongolian crew (Zamyn‑Üüd–Ulaanbaatar)

Quick Facts
  • Duration

    31 hours

  • Distance

    1553 km

  • Est. Price

    Approx. US$230–350 per person in sleeper classes, depending on class and agency fees

Official Booking Provider