campingoncloudnine wrote:Hi everyone,
We just crossed the border between China and Kazachstan at Khorgos - and Nur Zholy.
We took the overnight train from the Urumqi high speed train station to Khorgos (Huo'erguosi). It is a normal train and it will take about 9 hours and cost 170 yuan. You will arrive early morning in Khorgos (huoerguosi) . Khorgos is a little far from the train station, but there are taxis once you arrive. We paid 30 yuan, but you could probably pay less if you bargain. If you tell the driver you go to kazachstan he drops you at the bus station. [...]
Hello everyone!
I just arrived to Almaty, from Urumqi. I decided to take the same way than
campingoncloudnine. I find it cheap and convenient. Remember, the border is now 5KM south from the old Khorgos border, the new name is Nur Zholy (pronounced as 'nur yoly'). Coordinates of the Chinese side passenger entrance: 44.159605, 80.41499
However I did something different. These guys arrived to Huo er guo si' and went to the city bus station. They took a bus which drove them to the Chinese border, and then crossed to Zharkent.
In my case, I went to the border
directly with a taxi: 35 yuan. After exiting China, there is a Kazakh bus that goes STRAIGHT to Almaty (you must buy the ticket on the spot because the bus starts in the no man's land, this bus never touchs Chinese territory)
It is then
possible to
skip Zharkent!! Price of the bus: 100yuan (I feel I could have bargained)
In my case the bus departed at 12:15pm. But the chinese police told me that the bus leaves when full... By the way, if you ask politely, they look at your mobile in front of you (pictures, apps etc).
IMPORTANT: it is true that the border opens at 10:30am in the morning (Beijing Time). It doesn't make sense to arrive early at Huo er guo si'. The police let me enter at 10:40am and I was the first at the queue... So take the latest train guys...
EXTRA!! if your train arrives early (08am or so). You have enough time to visit Almaliq's Tuglugh Timur mausoleum (coordinates 44.240361, 80.535942) . It's a good idea for not getting bored in front of this desertic border... I asked the price to the taxi drivers: Almaliq + going to the Border costs 100yuan (from train station). Bargaining is possible.