Train from Beijing to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia schedule

Question

Hello,

I'm planning to visit Mongolia in June and wants to take the K3/4 train from Beijing to Ulaanbaatar. However, I can't find any updated information whether it is operational now or still suspended.

Can anyone verify or offer where to look for that information?

Thank you in advance for any assistance.

Answer

Here’s what I found regarding the train from Beijing to Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia) and its current status — you’re right to check, because the situation is not straightforward.

What the official schedules show:

There is a documented international train service between Beijing and Ulaanbaatar entitled K23/24 train. It lists Beijing → Ulaanbaatar (K23) and Ulaanbaatar → Beijing (K24) with travel of roughly ~27–32 hours.
Another historical service is the K3/4 train (Beijing → Ulaanbaatar → Moscow). But this is primarily a long-haul trans-Mongolian/Trans-Siberian route rather than a short two-city hop.

Current operational status & caveats:

Multiple boards and forums suggest that elevated routes such as the K3/4 via Mongolia have been suspended (for example due to pandemic, gauge change issues, international border complexities). For example, one recent forum post notes “It’s still suspended.”
Wikipedia’s listing for international trains notes that some of these services between China and Mongolia are marked as suspended or limited.
Even though the K23/24 is documented, it may not be operating regularly or its schedule may have changed, and the ticketing/border-clearance process is more complicated than domestic trains.

What this means for you planning in June:

You should treat the train route as possible but uncertain. It’s best to assume it might be suspended or subject to change until confirmed.
Before booking, you should check:
- Official timetable on the Chinese railway website (or via an official Chinese railway ticketing platform).
- Ticket availability — if you cannot find tickets for your date, that’s a red flag.
- Border crossing and train change requirements: the gauge change at the Mongolian border (Erlian/Ergun Ereenhot) is a known factor.
- Mongolian visa entry requirements and possible train entry requirements from Mongolia side.
If you find there’s no valid train on your date or booking is blocked, have a backup plan (e.g., fly or use other routes).

Where to look for updated information:

The official Chinese railway ticketing system (12306.cn) — although international trains may require different channels.
Chinese travel booking agents / platforms that specialise in international train tickets (look for platforms that list K23/24 specifically for Beijing-Ulaanbaatar).
Mongolian railway or tourism office sites — to verify inbound train connections from Mongolia’s side.
Recent travel blogs or forums (including recent year posts) that report whether the service actually ran on your proposed date.

Train from Beijing to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia schedule

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