My 21 days - Overland Border Crossing Train Rides from Malaysia > Thailand > Laos > China (Feb 10 > March 2 2025) Luang Prabang, Laos / Xishuangbana, China Feb 20 2025 (Day 11)

Welcome to Boten Railway Station, Laos

Welcome to China,
Mohan Railway Station, China

Thursday Feb 20 2025 (Day 11 - Luang Prabang & Boten, (Laos) / Mo Han & Xishuangbana (China) - for this particular trip, this was my 3rd overland border crossing (Laos > China) departing by international train D86 ETD 13.35 (09.30 train departure tickets all sold out !) from Luang Prabang (Laos) > Xishuangbana (China, 3 hours train journey) with 2 stopovers for passport clearance in Boten Railway Station (exiting Laos) & Mo Han Railway Station (entering China) before continuing the train ride to Xishuangbana, China (Kunming is the final stop). Each stopover in Boten & Mo Han for security luggage screening, immigration queuing & passport stamping took approx 50 minutes ! Please ensure safe keeping of your train ticket for this leg of travel as after each immigration clearance, you are required to board the same train for your continuing train ride to your final destination to Kunming or drop off in Xishuangbana or Pu'er along the way. When in Laos, suggest you buy train tickets in advance from train ticketing counters or online if possible ! So no hassle at all upon arriving the Laos & China border & be patient & wait for your turn to undergo the immigration process & security clearance ! 

After our train arrival in Xishuangbana Railway Station, it was in the late evening so we flagged a private taxi (CNY40 = Rm24) from the railway station to our hotel for check-in. 

Ground Transport & Food: LAK662,000 + CNY10

1. Train (Luang Prabang, Laos > Xishuangbana > China):  LAK522,000
2. Lao Grab: LAK200,000 @LAK50,000 (cost sharing of 4)
3. China DiDi : CNY40 @CNY10 (cost sharing of 4)
4. Food: LAK40,000 + LAK20,000 + LAK15,000 + LAK15,000 

1) Morning breakfast with my travel buddy in a eatery stall nearby our hotel in Luang Prabang, Laos - savoured a bowl of pork porridge (LAK40,000 = US$1.85) - yummy yummy taste ! Also bought two local dumplings (Lak20,000 x 2) as our lunch this afternoon. 

2) Morning walk in Dara Market, Morning Wet Market & riverside in Luang Prabang, bought coconut pancakes (30 KIP) as snacks & fresh eggs (8 pieces = 60 KIP) for making hard boiled eggs for our afternoon train ride from Luang Prabang > Xishuangbana. 

3) Luang Prabang Morning Market 

4) Mekong Riverside, Luang Prabang 

5) Luang Prabang Train Station & waiting lounge - pre-booked a private vehicle for a ride (200,000 KIP) from our hotel > Luang Prabang Railway Station to board an International train for a border crossing from Laos to Xishunagbana, China - an exciting train journey awaiting us when we arrive in two border towns ie Boten, Laos & Mo Han, China ! 

6) Boarding the D86 International train from Luang Prabang Railway Station heading to Kunming, China 

7) Countryside scenery & suburban scenery as viewed from the moving train from Luang Prabang > Boten, Laos

8) Arriving in Boten Railway Station (Laos), International Exit; luggage screening, filling up of Laos Exit > China Entry white card, queuing for immigration check & passport stamping etc. If you opt for a night stay in this "cowboy" town called Boten, the Laos Government has this to say "Welcome to Boten " but our group chose to move on ......   

9) Waiting lounge in Boten Railway Station, Laos - the 1st hurdle is over so just relax & the next hurdle is Mo Han border town crossing in China ! 

10) Boarding the same D86 International train from Boten Railway Station heading to Kunming, China 

11) Suburban & countryside scenery as viewed from the moving train from Boten (Laos) > Mo Han border crossing to China. 

12) Arriving in Mo Han Railway Station, China & walk to Mo Han Immigration Hall & Counters for security screening, passport stamping (photography strictly prohibited) but everything was well organised & in order !  

13) Exiting the China Immigration Hall & a short walk to a Waiting Lounge in the Mo Han Main Railway Station Complex. We passed the 2nd hurdle test with flying colors ! A wall mural saying " Welcome to China " greeting you so KM, sleep well & our group will be on our way (just follow the Kunming direction sign on the floor) & up an excavator to board our D86 International train one more time & this time heading to Xishuangbana, our 1st city of stay in southern China ! 

14) Countryside scenery as viewed from the moving train from Mo Han > Xishuangbana, China

15) Arriving & exiting the Xishuangbana Railway Station, walking towards an e-hailing pick up point direction - the sky is turning dark soon ! 

16) Jinghong City Xishuangbana Tourist Service Centre, Xishuangbana Railway Station - a brief stopover & picked up day tour packages (ranging CNY238 > CNY298) covering major touristy places in Xishuangbana.  

17) Exiting the Jinghong City Xishuangbana Tourist Service Centre & Railway Station > E-hailing Pick Up Point (along the main road in front of the Xishuangbana Railway Station), took a private taxi (CNY40 = Rm24) from the train station > Dreamview Shangpin Hotel, Jinghong City. 

18) Hotel Accommodation (Jinghong City, Xishuangbana): Dreamview Shangpin Hotel, Xishuangbana Jinghong Splashing Water Plaza; our group's 4 nights stay, room tariff @ Rm140 (US$31, twin sharing) + Breakfast. 

19) Agean Shopping Mall, located 100m from our hotel - familiarisation visit & a walk to China Mobile Customer Service Centre to inquire purchase of Sim Card for our China use. Sleep well, KM as all you anxieties on Laos / China border crossing is over, a cosy bed awaiting you for a good night sleep ! My border crossing, seeking travel experiences & dreams were finally fulfilled since my two visits to Laos in 2011 & 2017 ! Better late than Never especially for an oldie like me !