I’m about to embark on my epic journey through Mongolia, Russia and Kazakhstan on the transsiberian railway. Trying to keep it cheap, I wanted to buy the tickets destination by destination as opposed to buying the whole thing in one purchase, it gives me a lot more freedom that way too. I can get off when and where I want, I’m not stuck to any specific dates etc.
If you wanna buy your train ticket from Beijing to Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia you don’t buy it at Beijing railway station. You have to buy it from the CITS (China International Travel Service) in the Beijing International Hotel. The hotel is only a 10 minute walk from the railway station.
The process only takes about 10 minutes, you need your passport number and cash, other than that it’s simple. Now I just wanna get going. Next stop, Mongolia!
How to get to the ticket office:
Take the subway. Line 2, to Jiangoumen station. Take exit A and take a right out of the train station, walk about 200m to the ‘Beijing International Hotel’. Walk into the lobby, take a left and the office is right there. They speak great English and it’s open 7 days a week.
Don’t buy it online, and don’t buy it from any 3rd party agencies. Do it yourself! It’s easy and cheaper.
If all else fails, show the pic below to the taxi driver:
How much is the train from Beijing to Ulaan Baatar?
There are 3 classes of train, 1st class, soft sleeper and hard sleeper. The prices are as follows:
1st class: 2241RMB/$355
Soft Sleeper: 2056RMB/$326
Hard Sleeper: 1430RMB/$226
You can only pay in cash (no cards) and only in Chinese currency. There’s an international ATM in the hotel.
I chose hard sleeper, which is great. You have a private 4 bed cabin, sheets, pillows etc. definitely the best value for money.
How long does the train from Beijing to Ulaan Baatar take?
It leaves at 8.05am from Beijing Railway Station, and arrives in Ulaan Baatar 2pm the following day. So about eighteen hours or so.
What days does the train go from Beijing to Ulaan Baatar?
The train runs twice a week, on the Tuesday and Wednesday mornings.
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Dear Johnny, Thanks for the guidance on buying train tickets from Beijing to Ulaan Baatar. From Ulann Baatar onwards into Russian – Is it possible to buy tickets from the same CITS office?
Nope, gotta get your next ones when you’re in ulaan Baatar
Hi Johnny
I am hoping to do this trip in Summer 2013, around July time, and was just wondering how easy it is to get onto the trains at this time? One person told me it gets so busy in the summer you have to book ages in advanced. Is this true, or can I just turn up at the CITS and get a ticket there and then?
Thanks alot, great articles
Cheers
i heard the same about summer actually will, better give them a call mate. Personally though, i’d just turn up!
Dude, love the idea always wondered about this idea. Will you be posting more on how to continue your trip, prices, destinations on same page or have you already?
Cheers
hey mate, i’ve posted loads in the Russia section, just click on the russia or transsiberian tags, let me know if u have any questions 🙂
Hey Johnny great article very helpful thanks.
hey ian, no probs mate 🙂 good luck on your trip, i hear your going with 2 dudes considerably more awesome than you