22/04/2026
🚂 Mongolian Train Routes South — Toward China
Ulaanbaatar → Gobi Desert → Beijing
Dreaming of an epic overland journey between Mongolia and China? This southern railway route is one of the most rewarding ways to do it. To make the most of the stops along the way — especially the Gobi Desert — we recommend combining the local train with a private car, giving you the freedom to explore hidden gems that trains pass in the night.
🏙️ Choir (238 km from Ulaanbaatar)
A railway town on the road to and from China. Since trains typically pass through Choir at night, the best way to explore the surrounding area is by driving from Ulaanbaatar and using Choir as a day-trip base.
Nearby highlights:
🪨 Choirin Bogd (35 km east of Choir)
A dramatic rocky mountain sacred to locals, used for prayer and spiritual gatherings — a quietly powerful place to visit.
🐏 Ikh Nart Nature Reserve (40 km from Choir)
A protected wildlife reserve tucked into the rocky Gobi steppe, famous for its population of Argali wild sheep and ibex. A must for nature lovers.
🌵 Sainshand (474 km from Ulaanbaatar)
The capital of the Eastern Gobi and your gateway to desert landscapes and fascinating cultural sites. Arrive by train and explore the region by private car.
🕐 Train Schedule:
UB → Sainshand: daily at 16:45 – 01:20 and 20:30 – 07:15
Sainshand → UB: daily at 19:40 – 07:10 and 23:30 – 10:10
Day trips from Sainshand:
✨ Shambhala Energy Center (45 km from Sainshand)
A mystical spiritual site created by the renowned Gobi lama Danzanravjaa in the 18th century. A popular destination for those seeking spiritual energy and reflection.
🦢 Altan-Ovoo Sacred Mountain & Ganga Lake (130 km from Sainshand)
One of Mongolia's most revered sacred mountains, paired with the beautiful Ganga Lake — a freshwater oasis famous for its migratory birds. A stunning combination of nature and spirituality.
🗻 Shiliin Bogd Mountain (260 km from Sainshand — 3 nights / 4 days)
A legendary peak in the eastern steppe, historically celebrated as the place where Mongolian warriors gathered to witness the sunrise together. A profound and remote adventure.
🏜️ Zamyn-Üüd (709 km from Ulaanbaatar)
Mongolia's southern border town and the last stop before China. A great base for one final Gobi experience before crossing over.
🕐 Train Schedule: (check locally for current timetable)
🌅 Burdene Els Sand Dunes (120 km from Zamyn-Üüd)
A hidden gem — a small but beautiful sand dune oasis surrounded by wide open steppe. Perfect for off-road driving, golden sunsets, and breathtaking sunrises. Well worth the detour.
🇨🇳 Crossing into China
🛂 Erlian (Erenhot), China (715 km from Ulaanbaatar)
The main border crossing between Mongolia and China — a busy transit town where the train bogies are changed to fit the Chinese rail gauge.
🏙️ Hohhot (Khukh Khot), China (1,205 km from Ulaanbaatar)
A fascinating city in Inner Mongolia where the majority of residents are ethnic Mongolians. A wonderful place to experience Mongolian culture on the Chinese side of the border.
🕐 Train Schedule:
UB → Hohhot: every Friday & Monday — arriving at 20:00 (departs 20:22)
🏛️ Beijing, China (1,547 km from Ulaanbaatar)
The grand finale — China's magnificent capital awaits at the end of the line.
🕐 Train Schedule:
UB → Beijing: every Thursday — 07:18 – 14:35 (approx. 31-hour journey)
🌍 From the sacred mountains of the Gobi to the Great Wall of China — this is one of the world's truly great train adventures. All aboard! 🐪🚂
