International Trains

Erlian - Ulaanbaatar Trains

Erlian - Ulaanbaatar trains numbered 4652/ 4654 in China and 33/ 34 in Mongolia have been in service again since early in 2024. They are running between Erlian Railway Station and Ulaanbaatar Railway Station, departing every Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday with the travel time of about 14-17 hours. On every Thursday and Sunday, train no. 686 also leaves from Ulaanbaatar to Erlian; on every Monday and Friday, train no. 685 runs for the return trip. 
 

Erlian to Ulaanbaatar Train Schedule

(Last update on November 11, 2024)
Train No.  Departure Date Departure - Arrival Travel Time
4652/ 33 Every Tue. & Sat. 17:10 - 10:25 +1 17H15M
685 Every Mon. & Fri. 17:10 - 10:25 +1 17H15M
 

Ulaanbaatar to Erlian Train Schedule

(Last update on November 11, 2024)
Train No. Departure Days Departure - Arrival Travel Time
34/ 4654 Every Mon. & Fri. 20:22 - 10:25 +1 14H3M
686 Every Thu. & Sun. 20:35 - 10:25 +1 13H50M

 Notes:
1. “+1” means the second day.
2. The time mentioned in the above table is the local time.
3. The timetable is only for reference.
 

Ticket Fare of Erlian - Ulaanbaatar Trains

For Mongolia trains, only second class with 4 berths in each cabin are available, and the ticket fare is listed as below:
 
Soft Sleeper  Hard Sleeper

Erlian - Ulaanbaatar by China Train

CNY 1,130 (USD 157) CNY 791 (USD 110)

Erlian - Ulaanbaatar by Mongolian Train

-- - CNY 845 (USD 118)

 Kind Reminders: 
1. TravelChinaGuide offers hassle-free ticket booking service for Ulaanbaatar to Erlian trains. Please rest assured of placing an order and we will handle the rest for you.
2. The tickets from Erlian to Ulaanbaatar can only be bought at Erlian Railway Station with the passenger's original passport. 
 

Tips 

1. Check if you need a visa or not to travel to Mongolia before taking the trains. If a visa is required, please make sure your visa for Mongolia is valid when passing through the China-Mongolia border.

2. When the train to Ulaanbaatar stops at Zamyn Uud in Mongolia, the Mongolia’s customs will take your passport away and return it with the entry stamp of Mongolia.

3. Due to the different track width of China and Mongolia, the wheels of the train will be changed before passing the border. The whole process takes about 2 hours, during which passengers can either stay onboard or get off to have a stroll at the designated area. 
 

Erlian Railway Station

Erlian Railway Station is only 5 km (3 mi) away from China – Mongolia border. A taxi ride to the China National Gate scenic area costs about CNY10-15. In addition to the trains to/from Ulaanbaatar, it also operates trains to/from Moscow, the capital of Russia and Beijing, the capital of China. 
 

Ulaanbaatar Railway Station

Located in the southwest of the city, Ulaanbaatar Railway Station is the largest railway station in Mongolia and the center of Mongolia’s railway network. It not only has trains to/from other places in the country, but also has several trains to/from Moscow in Russia and Beijing and Hohhot in China. There is a Mongolian Railway Museum outside the station and 6 trains are displayed in the open air for tourists to visit. From the station, there is city bus no. T4 to Genghis Khan's Square and buses no. 6 and 42 to Dragon Bus Terminal. 
 

Erlian Travel Guide

Erlian is located in the north central part of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, northeast of China and borders Mongolia in the north. Due to its special geographical location, the National Gate and Boundary Tablet are unique tourist attractions here. One can also visit Erlian Dinosaur Geological Park, rich in dinosaur fossils. If you have enough time, you can go to Yulong Inn, Erlian Yanchi and Dongshan Cemetery.

 

Ulaanbaatar Travel Guide

As the capital of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar is located in the north central part of the Mongolian Plateau. With a more than 300 years history, Ulaanbaatar is the political, economic, cultural, transportation, industrial, and technological center in Mongolia. Ulaanbaatar is a modern city and one of the youngest cities in the world.
 

Top Attractions:

The National Museum of Mongolia: It is the earliest and best preserved museum in Mongolia introducing the Mongolian culture, science and education from ancient times to this day.

Gorkhi-Terelj National Park: It is a good place for tourists to enjoy the natural beauty of Mongolia, especially grasslands. The best time to visit is July and August.

Bogd khaan Palace: It is in Tibetan style and displays the gorgeous costumes and daily necessities of the Mongolian nobles.

Zana Bazar Museum of Fine Art: It houses Mongolian art works from prehistoric to early 20th century. There are about 10,000 works including paintings and sculptures of Zana Bazar in the museum.
 

Best Time to Visit:

The best time to visit is from May to August, when it is not too cold. Even though, bring some warm clothes for night time because Ulaanbaatar belongs to continental climate and the temperature varies widely from day to night.
 

Travel Tips:

Mongolia’s currency is Tugrik (MNT). Shops and restaurants accept credit cards, and some stores accept Union Pay. Five star hotel include Best Western Premier Tuushin, The Corporate Hotel and Convention Center, The Blue Sky Hotel and Tower and so on. Other cheap hotels are available, but the facilities are not so complete. Take care of your belongings and do not go outside alone at night.
 

Where Else to Go in Mongolia:

Sainshand: Gobi Desert;
Karakorum: Erdeni Dzu Monastery, ruins of the ancient town of Karakorum

See also Beijing to Erlian Train

Other International Trains between China and nearby Countries

K23/K24:
Beijing - Ulaanbaatar

K27/K28:
Beijing - Pyongyang

T8701/T8702:
Nanning - Hanoi

4652/4653:
Hohhot - Ulaanbaatar

Z5/Z6:
Beijing - Hanoi

K9795/K9796: Urumqi - Almaty
K9797/K9798: Urumqi - Astana

K19/K20
Beijing - Manzhouli - Moscow

K3/K4
Beijing - Ulaanbaatar - Moscow

D87/D88:
Kunming - Vientiane



 International railways under construction/planning from China to:
- Last updated on Nov. 13, 2024 by Grace Yang -
Questions & Answers on Erlian - Ulaanbaatar Trains
Asked by Maga from ARGENTINA | Sep. 27, 2024 02:39Reply
Booking ticket
Hello, how can i book a ticket from Hohhot to Ulambataar for late november. Can i book it in advanvce more than a month prior? thank
Answers (1)
Answered by Keith | Sep. 28, 2024 19:32
00Reply


Sorry, you can only buy the ticket at Hohhot railway station as the passenger's passport is needed. As I know, most passengers buy the tickets on the departure day after arrival at the station.
Asked by Isha | Aug. 05, 2024 20:25Reply
Crossing border to china
Can anyone describe the process of what happens when you take the train from Ulanbataar to erlian and cross the border at China.How does it work? Do you have to come off the train and arrange your own transport to the border and then get back on the train? Or do you simply stay on the train and the border officials come on the train to examine and stamp your documents?
Answers (1)
Answered by Marcy | Aug. 06, 2024 01:33
00Reply


You need to come off the train and walk to go through the immigration and customs, then get on the train again. They will change the railway tracks at Erlian, which may take a few hours. During the time, you can stroll around in the immigration restricted area.
Asked by Kheelen from MONGOLIA | Jun. 21, 2024 21:45Reply
Will Naadam affect Erlian-UB trains?
From the 11th-15th of July is the Mongolian national festival Naadam and they might close the borders. Do you have any information on this or will it not affect international trains? (I want to go from Erlian to UB on the 12th of July)
Answers (1)
Answered by Emily | Jun. 24, 2024 00:24
00Reply


It will affect the Erlian-UB trains as the Erlian border will be closed on the festival.
Asked by James Young from UNITED KINGDOM | May. 24, 2024 00:59Reply
Hohhot/Erlian-Ulaanbaatar
Are you 100% sure that there is a train running on Saturday at that time from Erlian to Ulaanbaatar?
Is there a train from Hohhot to Ulanbaatar as well?
Answers (1)
Answered by Marcy | May. 26, 2024 20:02
00Reply


Erlian - Ulaanbaartar train departs from Erlian at 17:10 on Tuesday and Saturday.
And yes, there is a train from Hohhot to Ulaanbaartar as well, departing at 21:59 on Monday and Friday.
Asked by Alvaro from FRANCE | May. 01, 2024 07:33Reply
Buying tickets for train 33
Hello, is it possible to buy tickets online for train 33 from Erlian to Ulaanbaatar? This would be very helpful since Chinese authorities ask for proof of exit when entering China. Thank you!
Answers (2)
Answered by Keith | May. 07, 2024 17:56
00Reply


This ticket can only be purchased on site at the ticket office of Erlian Railway Station at present.
Answered by Vigo | Jun. 27, 2024 07:31
00Reply


Hi Alvaro, Malaysian here. I am flying Malaysia-Beijing, and then would need to figure out ground transports to Ulanbatur. I get 15 days visa free for China, however am trying to secure an onward travel ticket to Ulanbatur. Since you already undertook your journey in May 2024, did you get asked for an onward proof of ticket from China at the immigration? How did you manage?
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