Frequently Asked Questions

Your fare covers everything from the moment you land: the train suite, every meal and premium drink onboard, all off-train excursions with entrance fees and fully bilingual English-speaking guides, airport and station ground transfers, any domestic flights required to reach or leave the departure city, all permits — including the Tibet Travel Permit and PSB border passes — luggage handling throughout, and comprehensive travel insurance within China.

What is not included: international airfares to and from China, your Chinese tourist visa (we provide the supporting documents, you apply), items of a personal nature such as laundry, spa services, telephone calls and premium Champagne beyond the complimentary selection, and gratuities. See our Terms & Conditions for the full breakdown.

For Tibet and Silk Road journeys, 4-6 months ahead is ideal — especially for September and October departures, which typically sell out first. These routes have the most complex permit logistics and the tightest suite availability.

Yunnan, Sichuan and Xinjiang routes can sometimes be booked 3-4 months out with good suite choice. Last-minute availability does exist but your suite selection will be limited. If you have fixed dates, book early. If you are flexible, a shorter lead time can work.

Prices shown on our website are reference rates in USD per person. When you submit an enquiry, your journey designer prepares a personalised proposal with a confirmed price. That price is valid for 14 days. Once you accept the proposal and pay the deposit (typically 25-30% of the total), the price is locked.

Prices may vary between enquiry and booking if the proposal validity period has lapsed, if suite availability changes, or if seasonal surcharges or permit fees have been updated. Your journey designer will always confirm the current price before you commit.

China Expresses is a specialist travel curator that partners with China's licensed luxury train operators. The trains themselves — the Shangri-La Express, New Oriental Express, Panda Deluxe, Starlight Lancang-Mekong and Tianshan Explorer — are owned and operated by their respective railway companies. We handle planning, permits, English-language guest service, off-train logistics and overall journey management. This arrangement gives you expert English guidance and seamless coordination, with the trains running on their officially scheduled routes and standards.

The Tibet Sky Road reaches 5,072 metres at Tanggula Pass — the highest railway on Earth. The Shangri-La Express is purpose-built for this route: every suite is oxygen-enriched, a medical officer is onboard throughout, and the itinerary builds acclimatisation gradually. We spend two nights in Xining (2,275m) and then two nights in Lhasa (3,656m) before travelling anywhere higher.

For most guests, the altitude is manageable. Mild headaches and shortness of breath are normal for the first day. Our medical officer monitors all guests and can provide supplementary oxygen. If you have a pre-existing heart or lung condition, discuss it with your doctor and your journey designer.

Absolutely. Tailor-made itineraries are what we do. Many guests combine routes — Silk Road into Tibet, or Yunnan into Sichuan for a south-to-west traverse. You can extend before or after the train segment with private tours in Beijing, Shanghai, Guilin or Hong Kong. You can request specific suite types, dietary arrangements, or private off-train excursions. Your journey designer builds a proposal around your interests, pace and timing. No two journeys are quite the same.

Smart casual at all times. There is no formal dress code — no jackets required, no black tie. Some guests enjoy changing for dinner; others stay in comfortable travel wear throughout. The atmosphere is closer to a private members' club than a gala event. Pack for comfort and layers; the only constant is that temperatures vary more than dress expectations.

Yes. The galley kitchen can accommodate vegetarian, vegan, halal, gluten-free, dairy-free and kosher requirements with advance notice. Allergies — including nuts, shellfish and soy — are managed carefully. Our chefs prepare every meal fresh onboard and are experienced in adapting menus without compromising quality. Please tell us at booking so we can brief the culinary team well ahead of departure.

Most guests are between 45 and 75, but we host honeymooners in their 30s and multi-generational families with grandparents and grandchildren travelling together. The common denominator is curiosity about China, interest in culture and landscape, and a preference for comfort over compromise. The age mix on each departure varies; our journey designers can give you a sense of the group for your preferred dates.

Yes. Solo travellers are warmly welcome and well represented on every departure. There is a single supplement for private suite occupancy, which varies by route and suite category. We also offer a limited number of dedicated solo-traveller departures each year with no single supplement — ask your journey designer about these. Onboard, the atmosphere is naturally convivial; solo guests frequently form fast friendships over meals and in the observation car.

Children aged 12 and above are welcome on all routes. Yunnan and Sichuan journeys are particularly family-friendly, with pandas, easier altitude profiles and shorter travel days. Children under 12 may be accommodated on select departures; we recommend discussing your specific family situation with a journey designer. The experience is designed around adult sensibilities — there are no dedicated children's programmes — but thoughtful, curious young people tend to be captivated by the landscape and culture.

Wi-Fi is available on most trains at lower altitudes but becomes patchy in remote areas — particularly across the Tibetan plateau and the Xinjiang interior. We provide an eSIM recommendation (compatible with most modern phones) and a pocket Wi-Fi rental option. Many guests find the reduced connectivity a welcome digital detox; the observation car at sunset requires no filter. If you need to stay connected for work, discuss your requirements with your journey designer.

No vaccinations are legally required to enter China. Routine immunisations (tetanus, diphtheria, polio, MMR) should be up to date. Your travel clinic may recommend hepatitis A, typhoid, and in some cases hepatitis B or Japanese encephalitis depending on your itinerary and season. This is personal medical advice: we recommend consulting your doctor or a travel medicine specialist at least 8 weeks before departure.

Tipping is not part of Chinese culture and is never expected — but it is appreciated. As a guideline, we suggest US$10-15 per guest per day for your journey director, and US$5-10 per guest per day for the onboard service team. These suggested amounts are pooled and distributed evenly among the crew. You are never under pressure to tip, and there is no awkward envelope ceremony. Gratuities at your discretion go a long way.

Yes, subject to availability. You can request a specific suite number or position on the train at the time of booking — for example, a forward-facing suite, a suite closer to the observation car, or one on a particular side of the train for views. Returning guests often have a favourite suite they request by number. Early booking gives the widest choice.

Your fare is protected. If a departure is cancelled due to severe weather, natural disaster, government restrictions or any other event beyond our control, we offer you a choice: a full refund of all monies paid, or a transfer to an equivalent departure at a later date at no extra cost.

For disruptions during a journey — a delayed train, a closed road — your journey director will adjust the itinerary in real time and arrange alternatives. This is why comprehensive travel insurance is mandatory: it covers additional costs that fall outside our direct control. See our Terms & Conditions for our full force majeure policy.