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 line, “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 premiere of China’s first cross-border tourist train, the “Starry Sky · 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 science lesson, “Y” stands for tourist trains, 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 Initiative. One such project is the Pan-Asia Railway, which starts from Kunming, Yunnan, connects various Southeast Asian countries, and ultimately reaches Singapore.
Currently, this railway, from Kunming to Vientiane, Laos, is 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 being staff and power cars, followed by a multi-functional car and a dining car, with the remaining ten being room cars.
The train can accommodate 60 passengers at full capacity.
The “Starry Sky · 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 are greeted by a 7.5㎡ bedroom, which doubles as a sofa during the day and transforms into a bed at night. This is quite good, saving space while making the guests more comfortable.
The vanity is fully stocked with fresh flowers, Traveler Magazine, welcome fruits, a humidifier, kettle, tea set, and even Evian water, ambient beverages, and small-packaged tea.
There is also a super mini-fridge underneath.
The 2.5㎡ bathroom also achieved a dry-wet separation, with Acqua di Parma for skincare and Marvis for toothpaste. All are top-tier configurations.
It’s worth noting that the room is fully equipped with Morgan Smart Home, allowing everything in the room to be controlled via voice through “XiaoDu”.
We’ve experienced many other travel services, but in terms of bedroom carriage intelligence, the Starlight·Lancang-Mekong Express is unparalleled.
Here are some details of the room.
Souvenirs were also placed in the room in advance, including a full set of Acqua di Parma, a commemorative plaque, and a fridge magnet from the Starlight Train.
Through the window, you can see the scenery, and the mountains and lakes are also watching you.
The better option is the Starlight Deluxe Room, which is 12㎡ (9㎡ bedroom + 3㎡ bathroom), with a total of 6 such rooms on the entire train (3 rooms per carriage, 2 carriages in total).
Since the Starlight Deluxe Rooms were fully booked this time, we 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 become dining carriages during meal times.
The multi-functional carriage is also quite nice, 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 meals are of high quality, such as foie gras, green lobster, steak, abalone, and bird’s nest…
Chinese cuisine with a Western touch, the ceremony is also in place, and these ingredients combined in one meal do not feel out of place.
The taste is also commendable, especially the steak, which is like an improved version of the Wellington, with a golden and crispy exterior and distinct layers inside, a texture I love.
Dinner is more sumptuous and comes with wine.
Lunch is more refined.
Breakfast is 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 to your heart’s content.
The Starlight·Lancang-Mekong Express is definitely a “dining train” that will ensure you eat and drink well.
The Lancang-Mekong Express is mostly operational during meal times, allowing you to enjoy the scenery along the way while dining.
Traveling is not about rushing, but about experiencing the journey.
Next, let’s talk about the itinerary.
Our trip is a 4-day, 3-night experience tour.
After full operation, the “Starlight·Lancang-Mekong” train will offer 5-day, 4-night round trips between Kunming-Lijiang-Shangri-La, Kunming-Lijiang-Baoshan, and a 7-day, 6-night round trip between Kunming-Luang Prabang-Vientiane.
The 7-day, 6-night trip to Luang Prabang and Vientiane is particularly appealing to me.
Day 1, Departure from Kunming
The experience before even boarding the train is already top-notch. There’s a Starlight Train lounge at Kunming Station, and the small pastries 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 pronounced.
You don’t have to lift your own luggage; it arrives at your room even before you do. Before boarding, you’ll 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, and the entire day is spent on the train.
Day 2, Luang Prabang
In the morning, you’ll arrive at Mohan (China’s exit port) and Boten (Laos’ entry port). You’ll need to get off the train to complete some formalities, but the exit process is completely worry-free; just bring your passport, and the butler will handle everything.
Afterward, you’ll reach Luang Prabang. The itinerary is completely worry-free: Royal Palace Museum – Wat Xieng Thong – Sunset at Phousi Mountain – Red Lotus Restaurant dinner – Stroll through the ancient city night market.
Climbing Phousi Mountain is interesting; it’s the highest point in Luang Prabang city, offering a panoramic view of the entire town.
Dinner is arranged beautifully, with a full table of authentic Lao cuisine.
The night market is perfect for shopping.
The train is really thoughtful; as we approached Luang Prabang, they handed out comfort packs for use upon arrival.
Day 3, Vientiane
A guided tour is also arranged for the day, visiting Wat Si Saket – lunch at Le Padaek Restaurant – Lao National Museum – Wat Xieng Khuan – Patuxai – Sunset French dinner at Lasine Hotel by the Mekong River.
The National Museum has a rich collection and offers insights into Lao history.
I find the Xiangkun Temple, with its enormous Buddha head, particularly beautiful.
The Laos version of the Arc de Triomphe.
The restaurant under the train seems to have been carefully selected, focusing mainly on Lao cuisine. Lao food is quite similar to Yunnan cuisine, so there’s no need to worry about not being able to enjoy it.
The meals over these few days have been increasingly impressive, each time thinking it couldn’t get any better, only to find that each place is a new high.
The restaurant for lunch was checked on Dazhong Dianping, ranking among the best for Lao cuisine. The environment is excellent, with meticulous attention to detail, and it has a sense of design.
In the evening, there’s a French restaurant where you can watch the sunset over two countries, located by the Mekong River, with Thailand just across the river.
They serve both French and Lao cuisine, with dishes like lemongrass soup and red wine, and they even provide chopsticks alongside the usual cutlery, showcasing a blend and clash of cultures in an elegant manner. The flavors are unexpectedly delicious.
The “Starlight Mekong” train has a photographer accompanying the journey, capturing beautiful moments whether on the train or during the land excursions.
Land excursions are arranged with vehicles, and there’s a Chinese-speaking guide providing explanations throughout, much like in some high-end group tours. Train travel has evolved.
Day 4, returning to Kunming
This entire day is spent on the train.
Feeling that this itinerary is quite 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.
Once officially operational, the “Starlight Mekong” itinerary will span 7 days and 6 nights, with ample time for stops and游玩 in Xishuangbanna, Luang Prabang, and Vientiane.
In Luang Prabang, there will be an overnight stay, 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 exceeding 5,000 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’d love to take another ride.
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 window, 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.
We’ve also filmed an unboxing video for the initial experience, and we’ll continue to share the exciting routes of our train journey with you next time.
