Transport · Cross-Border
Cross-Border Travel from China
Reference pages for 10 international border crossings: rail routes into Russia, Mongolia, Vietnam, Laos, and Kazakhstan; road crossings into Nepal, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, and Vietnam; and the restricted Dandong–Pyongyang rail link into North Korea.
Rail Routes
International train services departing from Chinese cities: Trans-Mongolian, Trans-Manchurian, Nanning–Hanoi, Kunming–Vientiane, and Urumqi–Almaty.
Beijing to Ulaanbaatar — Trans-Mongolian Railway
China → Mongolia
The Trans-Mongolian Railway runs from Beijing to Ulaanbaatar in approximately 30 hours, crossing the Chinese-Mongolian border at Erlian/Zamyn-Üüd where the bogies are changed to accommodate different track gauges.
Beijing to Moscow — Trans-Manchurian Railway
China → Russia
The Trans-Manchurian Railway (Train K19/K20) runs from Beijing to Moscow via Harbin, Manzhouli, and Zabaykalsk, covering approximately 9,000 km in six days.
Nanning to Hanoi — International Rail
China → Vietnam
The Nanning–Hanoi international train operates on metre gauge track, crossing the border at Pingxiang/Đồng Đăng. Journey time is approximately 12 hours.
Kunming to Vientiane — Laos-China Railway
China → Laos
The Laos-China Railway opened in December 2021, running from Kunming to Vientiane via Boten and Luang Prabang on standard gauge high-speed track. The journey takes approximately 10 hours by direct service.
Urumqi to Almaty — Rail via Khorgas
China → Kazakhstan
The Urumqi to Almaty rail service crosses the border at Khorgas (霍尔果斯) / Zharkent. Journey time is approximately 36 hours. A connecting service continues to Astana (Nur-Sultan).
Road Crossings
Overland road crossings: Hekou to Lao Cai (Vietnam), Zhangmu–Kodari to Kathmandu (Nepal), Kashgar to Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan), and the Karakoram Highway to Islamabad (Pakistan).
Hekou to Lao Cai — Road Border Crossing
China → Vietnam
The Hekou (河口) to Lao Cai border crossing connects Yunnan province to northern Vietnam. It is the highest-traffic China-Vietnam land crossing, typically crossed by bus or private vehicle. A high-speed rail link from Kunming to Hekou opened in 2016.
Lhasa to Kathmandu — Friendship Highway
China → Nepal
The Friendship Highway connects Lhasa to Kathmandu via Gyirong (吉隆) port of entry, passing across the Tibetan Plateau at altitudes above 4,000 metres. Overland distance is approximately 900 km and the journey takes 3–5 days.
Kashgar to Bishkek — Road via Torugart or Irkeshtam
China → Kyrgyzstan
Two passes connect Kashgar (新疆) to Kyrgyzstan: Torugart (3,752 m) via Naryn, and Irkeshtam (2,840 m) via Osh. Both require advance preparation and are not accessible to independent travellers without permits.
Kashgar to Islamabad — Karakoram Highway via Khunjerab Pass
China → Pakistan
The Karakoram Highway (KKH) connects Kashgar to Islamabad via the Khunjerab Pass (4,693 m) — one of the highest paved international border crossings in the world. Open May to November only.
Restricted Access
Border crossings that require prior authorisation, specialist tour arrangements, or are currently closed to independent travellers.