I am a train enthusiast.
Among various travel methods, I am almost obsessed with train travel.
Because trains are the most romantic, with strangers as fellow travelers and ever-changing scenery. Watching the scenery outside the window recede rapidly and gradually fade away, one begins to understand Su Shi’s words, “Life is like a journey, and I am but a traveler.”
Yes, we are off to ride the train again.
This time, we participated in the internal test launch of China’s first cross-border tourist train, the “Starlight·Lancang-Mekong,” traveling a round trip from Kunming to Mohan, Boten, Luang Prabang, and Vientiane. The entire experience lasted 4 days and 3 nights.
This is a special tourist train marked with the letter Y. For a quick fact, Y stands for tourist train, with a dispatch level of express.
As we all know, “China High-Speed Rail” is synonymous with world-leading high-speed rail technology.
China’s high-speed rail technology has also been continuously exported abroad, aiding other countries along the Belt and Road. One such project is the Pan-Asia Railway, starting from Kunming, Yunnan, connecting various Southeast Asian countries, and ultimately reaching Singapore.
Currently, this railway, from Kunming to Vientiane, Laos, has been fully operational. Under the impetus of the Pan-Asia Railway, Laos is beginning to prosper.
Last year, we also traveled by train to Luang Prabang. But never did we expect that this year, a tourist train would be arranged for such a journey.
Indeed, this is the speed of China.
The Lancang-Mekong train consists of twelve public carriages, with one at each end for staff and power generation, one multi-functional carriage, one dining car, and the remaining ten are all room carriages.
The train can accommodate 60 passengers at full capacity (this trip was not fully booked), with 25 service staff, and all rooms are equipped with butlers,.
The “Starlight·Lancang-Mekong” train is adorned in purple and gold, reminiscent of the colors of the Los Angeles Lakers, hence it is affectionately referred to as the “Mamba” special train by many train enthusiasts.
Our carriage this time was a 10㎡ Joyful Room. This room type is the basic accommodation on the train, with a total of 24 rooms (4 rooms per carriage, 6 carriages in total).
Upon entering, you find a 7.5㎡ bedroom, which serves as a sofa during the day and transforms into a bed at night. This is quite good, saving space while making tourists more comfortable.
The dressing table is fully stocked with fresh flowers, Traveler Magazine, welcome fruits, a humidifier, kettle, tea set, and even Evian water, ambient beverages, and small-sized tea cans.
There’s also a super-mini fridge underneath.
The 2.5㎡ bathroom also features a dry-wet separation, with skincare products from Acqua di Parma and toothpaste from Marvis. All top-notch configurations.
It’s worth noting that the room is fully equipped with Morgan Smart Home technology, allowing everything in the room to be controlled via voice commands through “XiaoDu.”
We’ve experienced many other travel services, but when it comes to bedroom car intelligence, the Starlight·Lancang-Mekong Express is unparalleled.
Here are some details of the room.
Gifts were already placed in the room, including a full set of Acqua di Parma, a commemorative plaque, and a refrigerator magnet from the Starlight Train.
Looking out of the window, the mountains and lakes seem to be watching you.
The better option is the Starlight Deluxe Room, which spans 12㎡ (9㎡ for the bedroom + 3㎡ for the bathroom). There are a total of 6 such rooms on the entire train (3 per carriage, with 2 carriages in total).
Since all the Starlight Deluxe Rooms were fully booked, I could only quickly take a photo.
The public areas on the train mainly consist of a dining car and a multi-functional carriage, both of which turn into dining carriages during meal times.
The multi-functional carriage is quite attractive, featuring a bar counter.
Our journey started from Kunming, so the dining car directly used fresh flowers from Kunming’s Dou Nan Flower Market.
The ingredients for the main courses were of high quality, such as foie gras, green lobster, steak, abalone, and bird’s nest…
Chinese cuisine with a Western presentation, the sense of ceremony was also on point. These ingredients combined in one meal did not feel out of place.
The taste was also commendable, especially the steak, which was like an improved version of a Wellington, with a golden and crispy exterior and distinct layers inside, a texture I love.
Dinner was more sumptuous and included wine.
Lunch was more refined.
Breakfast was a combination of buffet and à la carte, with a wide variety of à la carte options.
In the evening, the dining car turns into a bar, offering local Lao beer, which you can enjoy freely.
The Starlight·Lancang-Mekong Express is definitely a “dining train” that ensures you eat and drink well.
The train is usually operational during meal times, allowing you to enjoy the scenery along the way while dining.
Travel is not about rushing through the journey, but about savoring the experience.
Next, let’s talk about the itinerary.
Our trip is a 4-day, 3-night experience journey.
After the official operation, the itinerary of the “Starlight·Lancang-Mekong” train will be a 5-day, 4-night round trip from Kunming to Lijiang to Shangri-La, a 5-day, 4-night round trip from Kunming to Lijiang to Baoshan, and a 7-day, 6-night round trip from Kunming to Luang Prabang to Vientiane.
The 7-day, 6-night trip to Luang Prabang and Vientiane, in particular, makes me very, very excited.
Day 1, Departure from Kunming
The experience before boarding is already full. There is a rest area for the Starlight Train at Kunming Station, and even the small desserts play on the homophones with the Lancang-Mekong train, all blueberry themed.
Since this is the inaugural trip, the sense of ceremony is naturally more intense.
You don’t have to carry your own luggage, it arrives at the room before you do. Before boarding, you will receive an envelope containing your room card, a personalized commemorative train ticket with your name, and a custom luggage tag.
The train departs at 16:00 in the afternoon, and the whole day is spent on the train.
Day 2, Luang Prabang
In the morning, you will arrive at Mohan (China’s exit port) and Boten (Laos’ entry port). You need to get off the train to complete some formalities. The exit process does not require any personal effort; just bring your passport, and the butler will take care of everything.
After that, you will reach Luang Prabang. The itinerary is completely worry-free: visit the Royal Palace Museum, Wat Xieng Thong, watch the sunset from Phousi Mountain, have dinner at the Red Lotus Restaurant, and stroll through the ancient city night market.
Climbing Phousi Mountain is interesting; it is the highest point in Luang Prabang city, where you can see the entire Luang Prabang town.
Dinner is arranged very well, with a full table of local Lao cuisine.
The train is really thoughtful; as we approached Luang Prabang, they handed out comfort packs for use upon arrival.
Day 3, Vientiane
A day’s group tour is also arranged, visiting Wat That Luang, having lunch at Le Padaek Restaurant, visiting the Lao National Museum, Wat Xieng Khuan, Patuxai, and enjoying a sunset French dinner at the Lasine Hotel by the Mekong River.
The National Museum has rich collections and provides an opportunity to learn about Lao history.
I find Wat Xieng Khuan, with its huge Buddha head, particularly beautiful.
The Lao version of the Arc de Triomphe.
The restaurant under the train was carefully selected, mainly offering Lao cuisine, which is very similar to Yunnan cuisine, so there’s no need to worry about not being able to get used to the food.
The meals over these days have been increasingly impressive, each time thinking it couldn’t get any better, only to find that each place was the pinnacle.
The restaurant for lunch was checked on Dazhong Dianping, ranking top in Lao cuisine. The environment was excellent, with meticulous attention to the quality of the ingredients, and it had a sense of design.
In the evening, there was a French restaurant where you could watch the sunset over two countries, located by the Mekong River, with Thailand just across the river.
They served both French and Lao cuisine, with dishes like lemongrass soup and red wine, and they thoughtfully provided chopsticks along with the usual cutlery, showcasing a blend and clash of cultures in an elegant manner. The flavors were unexpectedly delicious.
The “Starlight Mekong” train has a photographer accompanying the journey throughout, capturing beautiful moments whether on the train or during the land excursions.
Land excursions are arranged with vehicles, and there is a Chinese-speaking guide providing explanations throughout, much like some high-end group tours. Train travel has evolved.
Day 4, returning to Kunming
This entire day was spent on the train.
Feeling that this itinerary was rushed, right?
That’s because this is an experience itinerary, condensing a 7-day, 6-night trip into 4 days and 3 nights, naturally making it more hurried.
In the official operation, the “Starlight Mekong” itinerary will span 7 days and 6 nights, with ample time for sightseeing in Xishuangbanna, Luang Prabang, and Vientiane.
There will also be an overnight stay in Luang Prabang, allowing for a full two days and one night to explore more deeply.
The other two routes are purely within Yunnan, covering Kunming-Lijiang-Baoshan (round trip) and Kunming-Lijiang-Shangri-La (round trip).
These routes include the Nujiang, Lancang, and Jinsha rivers, as well as numerous mountains with altitudes over 5000 meters, truly showcasing the magnificent beauty of Yunnan.
These routes are all worth looking forward to. Once the final official itinerary is confirmed and operational, I would love to take the trip again.
Additionally, the “Starlight Mekong” offers an all-inclusive package, with no extra costs for food, drinks, or activities off the train. Passengers only need to bring a pair of eyes to discover beauty. Through the train windows, the beauty is on the journey, outside the windows, and in the eyes.
Thanks to the “Starlight Mekong,” the train is no longer just a means of transportation but a precious gift of travel.
