On September 14, tourist train Y499 departed from Xi'an Station on a westbound journey to Almaty, Kazakhstan, via Khorgos Port. As the second China-Central Asia cultural tourism train (Xi'an–Almaty) of 2026, this official launch marks the service's transition from pilot runs to formal regular operation.

Launched to coincide with the Mid-Autumn Festival, this train travels west along the millennia-old Silk Road, crossing the Hexi Corridor and Tianshan Mountains. It links numerous golden autumn scenic spots in Xinjiang, taking travellers on an immersive in-depth cultural journey along the ancient Silk Road.

This 15-day, 14-night journey operates with full Type 25T soft sleeper carriages and two upgraded Type 19K premium carriages, featuring four-berth, twin and king-bed cabins.

Some cabins have private en-suite showers. Run as custom small-group tours, it retains the exclusive "train follows travellers" service. Built around the concept of "slow travel, deep experience", it spares travellers repeated transfers and frequent luggage hauling over long journeys.

Catering to diverse travel preferences, the train offers two distinct routes:

Route A: Kazakhstan tour. Travellers will cross the border at Khorgos Port to Almaty to discover local city scenery and nomadic grassland culture, with a new stop at Xian Xinghai Street in Almaty.

Route B: Xinjiang circular route without cross-border travel. It covers iconic sites across northern and southern Xinjiang such as Kanas, Hemu, Colorful Beach, Sayram Lake, Narat Grassland, Duku Highway and Kashgar Ancient City. Linking the Guanzhong Plain, Hexi Corridor, Xinjiang and Central Asian hinterlands, it combines natural sightseeing, historical discovery and folk culture experiences.

Dubbed a "mobile Silk Road cultural salon", the train offers immersive activities: intangible heritage handicraft workshops, ethnic music and dance, Silk Road instrument trials and traditional Chinese wellness experiences.

Zhang Jun, General Manager of Xi'an Overseas Travel Service Co., Ltd., said their company will partner with railway authorities to roll out the third China-Central Asia cultural tourism train in late October. This upgraded in-depth Kazakhstan tour features more cultural stops outside Almaty to expand cross-border cultural tourism options.

From summer pilot runs to today's regular service, the China-Central Asia cultural tourism train brings millennia-old Silk Road cultural exchanges to life. Travellers ride the ancient route by rail, savouring Chang'an's timeless allure and Central Asian traditions on this leisurely trip.