This year, I have friends who took the Eastern Express to Singapore and others who experienced the Pride of Africa in Africa. However, no one in my circle has yet traveled the Belmond in South America or The Ghan in Australia, perhaps because they are too far away or simply too niche.
But I’ve said it more than once: I am nostalgic, and I love train travel at a slow pace. I often fantasize about taking the Eastern Express from Paris to Istanbul, the New Eastern Express from Bangkok to Singapore, and riding vintage trains in Africa to experience the expansive and magnificent landscapes. The journey should be a part of the travel experience, and it should occupy a significant portion of it.
The Pride of Africa
Unfortunately, the best trains aren’t in China, and the most famous train travel routes aren’t in China either. Until 2022, when the “Hulunbuir” train appeared, I was among the first to take a ride and even wrote a tweet about it. The golden age of train travel is still alive!
The Hulunbuir train is fantastic; I really like it and filled the gap left by the absence of high-end trains in the country.
This year, the official operator of the Hulunbuir, Xingxiang Railway, launched another world-class high-quality train called the “Silk Road Dream Train.” It will operate a round trip between Xining and Dunhuang starting July 6. This train and this route have left me, a train enthusiast, excited, so we went to “check it out” right away.
Today’s article is about the inaugural journey of the Silk Road Dream Train. I took photos yesterday, wrote the article yesterday, and published it early today. This is the freshest and most immediate piece you’ll find. Moreover, I can responsibly say that no one has published practical articles about the Silk Road Dream Train earlier than us.
This image is a rendering, as the train cannot be pulled out of the workshop for a full panoramic shot.
The Silk Road Dream Train is designed and decorated by the globally renowned design company HBA, which incorporated many elements from the Silk Road and the Han Dynasty in its design. The exterior of the train is painted by Tsinghua University’s Academy of Fine Arts, and it is said that the bird and beast cloud patterns on the train were hand-drawn by the faculty and students of the Academy.
A lot of effort has been put into this.
Inside the train, there are many selected artworks and antique treasures from both domestic and international sources, reportedly chosen based on the scenic spots along the route. It’s as if it were a moving art castle.
There are a total of 15 carriages on the train, 10 of which are fully private bathroom sleeper cars, housing only 38 rooms, meaning it can hold around 80 people at maximum capacity. Additionally, there are 2 dining cars, 1 lounge car, 1 multifunctional carriage, and 1 staff carriage.
The most luxurious carriage has just 2 rooms. The room configurations can certainly measure up to those of a five-star hotel, brimming with a retro feel. The suite covers an area of 22 square meters. Can you imagine this is actually a room on a train?
The restroom features a double sink and a window-side bathtub, making soaking on the train no longer a mere desire.
The amenities are from Bulgari, with hand wash and body lotion from Aesop, and the hairdryer is a Dyson.
Typically, train travel is not very suitable for families with children because the rooms are too small; it can get crowded with 2 adults and 1 child. The Silk Road Dream Train has family rooms (Changle Family Suites), which include a large bed (1.7m*1.9m) and a children’s bed (0.6m*1.7m). This way, sleeping with the child becomes less cramped. I plan to take my child on this train in mid-July and intend to choose this particular room. Its area is 11 square meters, which is relatively spacious for a train room.
Even the basic rooms are 11 square meters. HBA’s design is indeed excellent; the rooms feature a day-and-night transformation design, where the bed can be converted into a sofa during the day and laid out as a bed at night.
The bed will be made up at night.
The bathroom is also quite retro, achieving a dry-wet separation.
You may not have a concept of 11 square meters and think it’s small. Let me give you examples of room sizes from other luxury trains. The Pride of Africa has 36 rooms for 72 passengers, with the smallest room being 7 square meters. Belmond has 24 rooms for 48 passengers, with the smallest room being 7.4 square meters. The Asian Eastern Express has slightly more carriages, with 22 carriages and 41 rooms, accommodating 82 passengers, the smallest room being 5.67 square meters. Xingxiang Railway’s own Hulunbuir has a minimum room size of 8.6 square meters. Therefore, the Silk Road Dream Train wins hands down.
There are two dining cars on the Silk Road Dream Train. The Chinese dining room is called “Shengyan Pavilion,” featuring a retro Chinese style. All the tableware is from the French brand Alain Saint Joanis.
The Western dining room is called “Xihai County,” with exquisite seating, elegant dining tables, and customized tableware… The two dining cars can accommodate all guests on the train at the same time for meals.
The lounge car is called “Xingxiang Palace,” serving as the check-in area, akin to a hotel front desk, with a bar serving drinks.
Entering the train through the gate of Xingxiang Palace is indeed a breathtaking experience.
The multifunctional carriage at the end of the train is called “Han Le Fu,” and the highlight is that it is a panoramic carriage with 180° views.
Inside the multifunctional carriage, there are KTV rooms and rooms for the traditional Chinese game of Mahjong.
The current route of the Silk Road Dream Train is a 5-day, 4-night journey from Xining to Dunhuang or Dunhuang to Xining, operating seasonally.
I really like this route, as it feels like stepping into a fantasy journey that spans a millennium. You get to experience unique landscapes like deserts, Gobi, and salt lakes, visiting Dunhuang, Xining, and Chaqi.
The infrastructure in the Northwest isn’t as good as in places like Sanya or Yunnan; while there are beautiful views along the way, good hotels are lacking. Train travel is like river cruises; many depart in the evening, allowing you to explore your destination during the day while enjoying endless scenery along the route. It saves the hassle of frequently changing hotels and moving luggage.
I have already scheduled to travel this route in mid-July, and it also coincides with my vacation with my child. Today’s article is merely a teaser; once I return from this journey in July, I’ll present a detailed report. Honestly, as a train enthusiast, I am quite looking forward to this trip.
