What to See along the Trans-Siberian Train Tour?
The Trans-Siberian railway mainly refers to the train route from Moscow to Vladivostok, but has branches to Mongolia and China. What we are talking about now is mainly the journey in China, Mongolia and Russia. The train tickets can be bought in sections, such as Beijing - Ulaanbaatar, Ulaanbaatar - Irkutsk/ Moscow, or Beijing - Moscow.
China is an ancient civilization with a long history of over 5000 years. The historical Beijing has the world-famous Forbidden City and the Great Wall, the trip can also be extended to Xian to see the eighth wonder of the world, the Terracotta Warriors, then to the picturesque Guilin and the metropolis Shanghai.
Mongolia is an inland country with huge steppe and vast desert. Its natural scenery and nomadic culture attract tourists from all over the world, trekking and hiking around the country.
The Trans-Siberian tours head to Russia and have stops at Irkutsk to see the Lake Baikal, the Eurasian boundary in Yekaterinburg and finally arrive at the charming Moscow.
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Great Wall, Beijing
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Horse Festival in Mongolia
When is the Best Time to Take a Trans-Siberian Tour?
China is suitable for all year round travels, while the winters are really cold in Mongolia and Russia.
Generally, June to September are the best seasons to travel, then follows October to February to see the ice and snow along the way, and the train tickets are easier to get than that in peak seasons. The months around April are the least attractive as there is neither grass nor snow during the period.
Do I Need Visas to Different Countries If I Take the Trans-Siberian Railway Tours?
Yes. Each country issues different visa policy for travelers from different countries. You need to consult your local Embassy for details. Please make sure your visa is in effect when you enter the border of this country, not the first railway station of the country. If you will travel by train directly between Beijing and Moscow, then a transit visa is enough for Mongolia.
What Currencies are Used on the Train?
The dining car carriage varies according to the country the train passes through. Two meals are served in the dining car free of charge in China section, but the rest of the meals need to be paid for. The local currency is the best, credit cards and USD are acceptable but at a lower exchange rate. Along the way, passengers can get off and buy some supplies in the small shop of the railway station, only local currency is acceptable. Unused money can be spent at border stores or exchanged for other currencies.
What Should I do at the Border?
Different from the airport to queue up in a line to pass the customs and immigration, the officials of different countries will board on the train and come to you for these formalities. All you need to do is to stay on your berth and get all relevant paper works ready.
The security check on trains entering Russia is very strict, the officials may require all passengers to open their luggage, and they may search every corner of the train to prevent prohibited items. These are fixed procedures, not for personal issues, take it easy!
Due to the different sizes of the railway tracks, or say gauges, international trains passing through China and Mongolia border need to change their wheels to meet the new gauge standard of the country they are heading to. The change will be made in Erlian, the border city in China.
Each carriage will be disconnected and moved into a large workshop. The whole bottom of the carriage will be replaced, which takes 2-3 hours. If you are interested in the replacement process, you can stay on the train. For those who are not interested in this, they can get off the train and walk around the station, but cannot board on the train until the train is moved back, so please take your valuables along with. The train will stop for over 6 hours, during which, the toilets on the train will be closed. Attention on this please.
