Moscow to Beijing by train

1a Travelling from Moscow (Russia) to Beijing (China)

Travel from Moscow to Beijing by direct overnight train. The journey time is about 140 hours with six nights on board of the train. The train ticket prices start at 650 EUR. There are two direct trains per week with different routes. The departure station is Moskva Yaroslavsky.

1) Moscow to Beijing via Mongolia:
The Trans-Mongolian route (train number 4) leaves Moscow for Beijing on Tuesday night at 23:45. The train arrives in Beijing on Monday at 14:35. The route leads via Siberia, Ulaanbaatar and the Gobi desert. The route length is 7620 kilometres. This train is provided by Chinese national railway.

2) Moscow to Beijing via Manchuria:
The Trans-Manchurian route (train number 20) leaves Moscow for Beijing on Saturday night at 23:45. The train arrives in Beijing on Saturday morning at 05:50. The route leads via Harbin and does not cross Mongolia. The route length is 8980 kilometres. This train is provided by Russian national railway.

The ticket prices are nearly the same for both trains. The following service classes can be booked:
- 2nd class: compartment with four beds, two on each side. The train ticket price starts at 650 EUR.
- 1st class: compartment with two beds. The train ticket price starts at 900 EUR.

Children from 0-3 travel for free in the bed of their parents. Children from 4 to 11 pay 75% of an adult ticket.

Food:
Both trains offer restaurant cars which are not expensive and of good quality. You get main meals bellow 10 EUR. You can always buy food and drink from the vendors and kiosks on the train platforms when the train stops. Each wagon has a samovar with free boiling water, which you can use for coffee or tea and to prepare food snacks you bring with you.

Toilet and shower:
Each train wagon has at least two western-style toilets and small bathrooms with sinks. The train staff will keep the toilet clean during the whole journey. There are shared showers available for the 1st class compartments on the Chinese train via Mongolia. Otherwise just use the small bathrooms and a wash-cloth. If you don’t travel the whole journey with one train, you have of course showers in hotels you book along your travel route. But it is to expect that showers in the trains will be provided in the future.

Security:
The trains are very safe. You will meet families travelling with kids and as well women travelling alone. You can lock the compartments at night and your luggage is save. The train staff is always present. The compartments are mixed with female and male, but you can ask the train staff for women-only compartments.

Internet and electricity:
There is no WiFi available in the train itself. You have to use your mobile phone to access via a phone network provider. Some compartments have power sockets, you might also find some in the corridor. Or just ask the train staff if they charge your mobile device for a small tip.

Other train connections are available change of trains.

Find the exact train schedules, plan your trip and buy your ticket via the given booking links.