The first China-Central Asia cultural and tourist train of this year arrived in Almaty.
Railways have never been merely transport routes but also threads stitching together the destinies of peoples. When it is not cargo but people that move along the tracks, carrying curiosity and respect for foreign cultures, distance ceases to be a barrier. The new tourist route linking ancient Xi'an with the Kazakh steppes turns the journey into a living dialogue of civilisations, where every kilometre brings not only a new point on the map but also a step closer to mutual understanding.
The first China-Central Asia cultural and tourist train of this year departed from the Khorgos railway port in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in northwest China on Friday and arrived in Almaty, Kazakhstan, the same day. This tourist train, connecting Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi Province in northwest China, with Almaty, was launched last year as a new channel for deepening ties and promoting people‑to‑people and cultural exchanges between China and Central Asia. The train set off from Xi'an on Monday, heading west along the Lanzhou‑Lianyungang and Lanzhou‑Xinjiang railways. After arriving at the Yining railway station in Xinjiang, passengers visited local attractions such as Sayram Lake. They then transferred to a separate train to Almaty.
"This is my first trip abroad by train. The exit procedures were very fast, and everything went smoothly – I got to the station and boarded the train without any problems. I am looking forward to the rest of the journey," said tourist Hu Sanci. The Urumqi Railway Administration, in cooperation with customs and border services, optimised the entire port clearance process and prepared passengers for ticket exchange in advance, reducing the time needed for entry and exit procedures to about one hour. "Passenger transport and ticket booking for the cross‑border section were handled by the railway department of Kazakhstan. We promptly coordinated everything with the Kazakh side and completed the ticket arrangements for the cross‑border section for passengers in advance," said Reyhangul Rahman, an employee at Khorgos railway station.
The cultural and tourist train is part of a broader strategy to develop tourism and cultural exchanges within the Belt and Road Initiative. Last year, similar routes already proved popular among Chinese and Central Asian travellers, and the number of trips is expected to increase this season. As CCTV+ reports. Passengers highly appreciated the convenience of cross‑border rail services, and local authorities are preparing to receive new tourist groups in the coming weeks.
