China to Mongolia

There are limited and confusing train or bus information on the internet. The frequently  seen  on internet is  the train   from Beijing to Ulaanbatar. Information and tickets can only be bought from the departing destination, i.e. Beijing, Hohhot, (Huhehaote), Erlian (Erenhot), which I took an overnight train (61 Yuan) from Hohhot to Erlian, when told that there are more options to Ulaanbatar. It is also cheaper and  nearer.  

When I tried to get information from the staff at  Zhengzhou Railway station, was told there is no train from Beijing to Mongolia even though I showed her the schedule from travelchinaguide.com website. 12306 app also drew a blank.  I can only conclude that the staff are not educated on international  train services in China.  Local and International are 2 separate entities.  Thus, my only option is to take the risk to go to Hohhot from Hengshui, Anhui. I try to avoid Beijing and also the fare is more expensive than airticket to Ulaanbatar.

At Hohhot Railway Station, I was advised  that the operating hours of  international train ticket is 9am to 5pm. Fare from Hohhot is about 1,000 yuan and from Erlian is about 800 yuan. Twice a week, Monday and Friday.

There are 2 daily train services from Hohhot to Erlian,  6856 departing 0900 and arriving 1825 at 53 yuan, and 4652 departing at 2250 arriving at 0650am next day, at 61 yuan.

The following is the train information I get from the International Ticket office which is on the left side of Erlian Railway Station, opp the tall grey building.  It is only open on days when train is scheduled for Ulaanbatar, i.e, Mon, Tues, Fri and Sat, Close on Wed and Thur.

Operation hours Mon, Tue, Fri & Sat :   9am – 11.30am,  2.30pm – 4pm

Train leaves Erlian at 5.30pm and arrives Ulaanbatar at 10.30 am.  Fare  is 66 yuan and at Zamyd-Uud Station, pays another 530 yuan, payment for both in cash only. Four departures a week. All soft sleeper. 

By Bus, at Erlian International Bus Station, (bus 6 or 2 from railway station) there are 2 daily departures to Ulaanbatar, at 11am and 2.00pm,  journey time is about 10hours, fare is 210 yuan.  There are more frequencies to Zamyd-Uud (from travelchinaguide.com website, it is every half hour) and the fare is 50 yuan, this is more flexible for me, being foreigner custom immigration may take longer.

From Zamyd-Uud daily night train at 1805 arriving  Ulaanbatar at 9.30 next morning, fare about 154 yuan (from internet) and hard seat 54 yuan. (to be updated on 22 May 2026)