Almaty-Yining-Urumqi bus: reports, Q&A

[Giles]

If there is no train from Almaty to Urumqi available do anybody have any suggestions for alternative ways to get to Urumqi? I see that there is a train from Yining for example

[HalloM8]

Hey all,

I'm planning to cross the Kazakhstan/China Khorgos border crossing mid July this year. Since China
just opened to tourists a month and a half ago, I'm wondering if the bus route departing from Sayran Bus Station on Tole Bi Street is still in operation. If anyone has any details or can possibly reach out (my Russian is very poor), it would be extremely appreciated.

Many Thanks
Ryan

[chump_chop]

Just been told by ChinaHighlights.com that the Urumqi-Almaty train is still not running. Also interested in other ways to get from Urumqi to Almaty if anyone knows!

[StephParis]

For last solution there are direct flights from Almaty to Urumqi. Good thing is that chinese officers are less intrusive at airport than at land border. I've experienced both so I know what I'm talking about.

[Giles]

I have seen a recent post on TripAdvisor saying that you can get a train from Khorgas to Urumqi. There is a train from Almaty to Altynkol then a bus across the border to Khorgas (Huoerguosi). This has been confirmed by our friend in China

[alethialee]

For now no train from Almaty to Urumqi, you can go by a shared taxi from Almaty to zharkent, then there is shuttle bus to khorgos(pass border at midway),then train from khorgos to urumqi. But since you mentioned that you want to do it during summer so maybe the train will be available by then

[davidw1234]

I have the same question. I am following this. The Sairan bus station website says that there is a "comfortable sleeping bus, departing every Friday" to Khorgos. The timetable also quotes a departure time of 07:00 for a bus to Urumqi but no indication of the frequency. I think I have read that it used to be daily but I am suspicious that it may no longer be so.

[HalloM8]

I have the same question. I am following this. The Sairan bus station website says that there is a "comfortable sleeping bus, departing every Friday" to Khorgos. The timetable also quotes a departure time of 07:00 for a bus to Urumqi but no indication of the frequency. I think I have read that it used to be daily but I am suspicious that it may no longer be so.

Hi David, I've actually met a traveller who's taking the same route as me as well as a Kazakh who both phoned some bus numbers and got in touch with locals. It seems the bus line has been discontinued for a while due to lack of demand, or at least that was the consensus from the two of them. My route has been adapted to get an InDrive taxi from Almaty to Zharkent, take the bus across the Horgos border, take a taxi to Yining and then take a bullet train to Urumqi. This route seems to be faster, more comfortable, and at least reliable. The traveller took the same route and experienced no issues, although the InDrive taxi driver tried to pressure him for the rest of his Tenge at the border.

[rollirouland]

The bus is still going every day at 7am. (12000 tenge)
The only difference is that they don't go to Urumchi anymore but drop you of at Yining (first big city after the border. From there you can take a train to Urumchi.

[wnstnbchr]

The bus is still going every day at 7am. (12000 tenge)
The only difference is that they don't go to Urumchi anymore but drop you of at Yining (first big city after the border. From there you can take a train to Urumchi.

Do you know when the bus reaches Yining approximately? Is it in time to catch the 15:10 bullet train to Urumqi?