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Voykit pocket guide · China
Khorgos
Use Khorgos only as a transit point between China and Kazakhstan; one day is enough, no overnight stay needed.
Khorgos is a border town in Xinjiang serving as the main road and rail crossing to Kazakhstan. The railway station, bus terminal and town are separate, so allow time for transfers. Most travellers pass through in a few hours; a night‑stop is optional only if you need rest before continuing.
- Country
- China
- Best months
- check
- Avoid
- check
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- CNY
- Money
- Alipay and WeChat Pay accept Visa, Mastercard, JCB and Amex cards; single payments over ¥200 carry a fee of about 3% on a foreign card (smaller ones are free), and per-payment and yearly caps apply — check the app. Keep a second way to pay.
- Daily spend
- Budget ¥300–¥500 excl. bed · Mid ¥500–¥800 excl. bed · High ¥800+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- A roaming eSIM from outside China routes traffic through its home network, so Google, WhatsApp and Instagram work without a VPN — the simplest setup.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 119
- Plugs
- Types A, C, I · 220 V · 50 Hz · Many sockets take flat two-pin (A), round two-pin (C) and angled three-pin (I) plugs; UK plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: No tip; upmarket hotels add 10–15% service.; Taxis and DiDi: No tip.; Tour guides and drivers: Expected on organised tours: about ¥100–200 a day for a guide, ¥50–100 for a driver.; Hotel porters: Not expected; ¥10–20 in luxury hotels.
- Water
- Not for drinking from the tap; bottled water ¥2–5, and kettles and free bottles in hotel rooms. Restaurants serve hot water or tea.
- Toilets
- Public toilets are frequent and free; squat toilets outside hotels and malls. Carry tissues — many have no paper.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Minibus to Zharkent | ¥99 |
| Taxi (short intra‑town ride) | ≈¥50 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- URC · Ürümqi Diwopu International Airport
- ≈ 3 h by road or train to Khorgos; main gateway for Xinjiang
Typical fares
- Minibus Khorgos → Zharkent
- ¥99 (check for current price)
- Taxi between railway station and town
- ≈¥50 (check local rate)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Taxis are the main way to move between Khorgos Railway Station, the bus terminal and the town centre. No public transit within the small town.
See and do
Known for
- China–Kazakhstan border crossing
- Khorgos National Gate Scenic Area
- International Border Cooperation Center
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Yining | Bus or minibus from Khorgos International Bus Terminal; approx. 90 km (56 mi) eastBus or minibus from Khorgos International Bus Terminal; approx. 56 mi (90 km) east | check |
| Zharkent (Kazakhstan) | Minibus from the same terminal; fare ¥99 reported July 2026 | about 1 h |
Sleep
- Vienna International Hotel (Khorgos Port)
- In town, away from railway station and border checkpoint; confirm passport registration before arrival.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Where is the border checkpoint? | 边境检查站在哪里？biān jìng jiǎn chá zhàn zài nǎ lǐ? |
| How much is the fare? | 多少钱？duō shǎo qián? |
| I need a passport stamp. | 我需要护照盖章。wǒ xū yào hù zhào gài zhāng. |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and a nod; use surnames with a title; avoid: Hugs and cheek kisses
- Face: Disagree privately and indirectly; avoid: Correcting or embarrassing someone in front of others
- Gifts: Give with two hands; expect the gift to be refused once or twice and opened later; avoid: Clocks, umbrellas, white flowers, sets of four
- Business cards: Present and receive with both hands, read it, keep it on the table; avoid: Writing on it or pocketing it at once
- Queues and crowds: Hold your ground politely in scrums at buses and lifts; avoid: Taking pushing personally
- Temples: Walk clockwise around Tibetan stupas and prayer wheels; remove hats; avoid: Touching statues or photographing where signs forbid
- Politics: Listen; follow your host's lead; avoid: Raising Tibet, Taiwan, Xinjiang, 1989 or the party leadership
- Numbers and colour: Red and 8 are lucky; red envelopes carry money gifts; avoid: Writing names in red; the number 4
Scams and watch-outs
- Border procedures can take long; keep passport, water and medication handy.
- Photography of border facilities is prohibited without permission.
- Hotel may need passport registration; confirm before booking.
Khorgos is safe for transit but border areas are controlled; follow staff instructions and keep documents accessible.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Khorgos yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- China–Kazakhstan border crossing
- Khorgos National Gate Scenic Area
- International Border Cooperation Center
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Khorgos, revision 5331098 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5331098
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/khorgos). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.