China > By train through the Taklamakan desert

In the morning, I walk through the shopping streets of Kashgar. Although it’s already half past ten, daily life is only now beginning to pick up. According to local time, it’s two hours earlier. I stroll past luxury clothing stores and try to figure out whether electronics are cheaper here—but I can’t really tell. In a small supermarket, I buy some drinks for the train journey.

China - By train on the way to Turpan

Around early afternoon, I head to the station. Right on the station square, I have to show my passport. The train ticket follows at the second check. My luggage goes through a scanner—it feels almost like traveling by plane. The departure hall also gives me that impression. Three-quarters of an hour before the actual departure, I’m allowed onto the platform. The train is already ready. I search for carriage seven. Once inside, I look for sleeping berth 14. The compartment has four berths; I’m in the upper one. It’s a tight fit to find space for the travel bags. I’m sharing with two fellow travelers. Who the fourth guest will be remains a surprise. Once the train starts moving, I head to the dining car for a beer. The entire train journey lasts 23 hours—a long ride across the Taklamakan Desert. Directly after Kashgar, the vast sandplain begins—a desert that was historically difficult to cross along the Silk Road. I eat in the dining car. When I return to my compartment, the train stops at an intermediate station. My compartment mate boards—a Chinese man. He’s traveling with a few friends, scattered throughout the carriage. He speaks a few words of English, and we manage a slow conversation using gestures and a mix of words. Around half past ten, I climb into the upper berth. With the train shaking along the rails, I slowly drift off to sleep.