What?! Another itinerary thread! Beijing to Kashgar - 3 weeks

This is exactly what I have in mind anyhow, overnight train and a bus straight out to Xiahe. Thanks for your assistance, sir!

Hey all, a quick question i got, hopefully someone got some recent experience of it...

So Im going to leave Xiahe, with the aim to make it to Zhangye within one day, as sugggested by a poster in the thread. I have found the fast trains from Xining to Zhangye, they are fairly regular and as of now there are second class seats available for the fast trains on my day of travel..
Realistically how long/reliable is the bus from Xiahe to Xining, i see one bus leaves early every morning, but exact information is sketchy, just trying to work out what time train I should book to ensure i dont miss it.

I have emailed my accomm in Xiahe but no reply as of yet, hence re-living this thread.

When you get to Xiahe, check with the bus station to confirm departure time for the bus to Xining. Buy a ticket day before. Usually this bus leaves early, between 06:00-07:00. It won't dawdle there, and traffic on the route to Xining will be pretty light. Usually it's 6 hours but allow 7. So: assuming the "worst case" of 07:00 start + 7 hours travel time + 30 minutes (taxi) between Xining bus and train stations + 20 minutes getting into station to boarding platform, I'd say booking a Xining-Zhangye train departing 15:00 or after is fine. I'd go for the D2749. Ideally, you'd order this ticket in advance and pick it up at a train station earlier in your trip so you have it in hand.

Missing a fast train isn't a complete disaster--usually you can get put on the next one as long as space is available.

Great stuff, I had booked a train ticket for 4.30 ish time anyhow to 'play it safe' just incase.

Thanks again for your help, most valuable!

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