Transport · Cross-Border · Kazakhstan
Urumqi to Almaty — Rail via Khorgas
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).
Route & practicalities
The rail connection between Xinjiang and Kazakhstan operates via the Khorgas border crossing — a major Silk Road Economic Belt port of entry and one of the most significant China-Central Asia land crossings. Train services connect Urumqi (乌鲁木齐) with Almaty in Kazakhstan, with onward connections to Astana (formerly Nur-Sultan).
The rail journey from Urumqi to Almaty takes approximately 36 hours. The crossing at Khorgas involves a bogie exchange as China and Kazakhstan use different track gauges (standard gauge versus Russian broad gauge). The exchange takes 3–5 hours and is conducted at the Khorgas border station.
Tickets: the Chinese segment is available through 12306.cn and Urumqi train stations. The Kazakhstani segment is ticketed through Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), Kazakhstan's national railway, bookable online or through agents.
Alternative: Khorgas is also accessible by road. A dedicated international bus operates the Urumqi–Almaty route in approximately 24 hours by road, crossing the border at Khorgas by coach.
Khorgas (霍尔果斯) itself is a Special Economic Zone — a joint China-Kazakhstan free trade zone developed since 2010 on both sides of the border. Duty-free shopping in the SEZ is available.
From Almaty, onward connections to Astana (by rail, approximately 14 hours, or by air 1 hour) and to Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan (by road, approximately 4 hours) are available.
Customs: Chinese customs applies standard exit rules. Kazakhstan allows 2 litres of alcohol duty-free. Currency over USD 10,000 must be declared at Kazakhstani customs.
What to expect at the border
The Khorgas crossing is one of the more organised Central Asian land crossings. The rail border procedure includes Chinese exit inspection, the bogie exchange (interesting to watch), and Kazakhstani entry inspection. Road crossings at Khorgas have separate facilities and can involve longer queues during peak periods. The surrounding landscape on both sides is steppe and the Tian Shan mountain ranges to the south.