The Great Tea Route: How Buryatia is Preparing a Railway Tour for Chinese Operators

What's behind the name 'Great Tea Route'

It's not just a name for a new tourism project – it's an attempt to revive an ancient trade artery along which tea from China crossed Mongolia and Russia for centuries on its way to Europe. Today Russia, China and Mongolia are jointly developing a modern tourist route, building on decisions made at international meetings in Ulan-Ude in 2024 and in Darhan in 2025.

Why a preview tour is being organized for Chinese operators

The July run to Ulan-Ude is meant as a 'test drive'. Representatives of leading Chinese tour firms and industry journalists get a chance to see how the future service will work, assess the logistics and figure out which sights should make it into itineraries. This trial launch lets them fine‑tune hospitality details before the route opens for a full‑scale cruise.

Scale of the route and key points in Russia

From the Russian side the project involves 28 cities spread across 19 regions – from Primorsky Krai and Zabaykalsky Krai to the Urals. They include Buryatia, Irkutsk and Novosibirsk oblasts, as well as Krasnoyarsk Krai and Zabaykalsky Krai. In the Buryatia segment, the historic 'tea capital' Kyakhta receives special attention; it was the main caravan hub in past centuries. Visits to local museums that hold tea‑trade artifacts are planned, along with stays in new modular hotels.

The 'Baikal Tale' train as a platform for service testing

The preview tour runs on the tourist train 'Baikal Tale'. This consist is already being used to work out the service model for the future project. During the July run Chinese guests will be able to judge the service level, cabin comfort, restaurant operation and the excursion programme. The train, like the whole project, is operated by RZD Tour – a company that in 2026 will run programmes on 28 cruise trains.

What the future international cruise will look like

A full‑scale railway cruise 'Great Tea Route' linking Moscow and Ulan-Ude is slated for launch in 2027. The itinerary will include the same historic stops as the current test run, but with an expanded programme and longer stays in each city. The trip is expected to appeal both to organized groups and to independent travelers who want to follow the trail of ancient caravans.

Parallel initiatives: auto tourism and other regions

The railway tour is only one facet of the project. In June 2026 Buryatia hosted participants of a pilot international auto rally, where representatives of car clubs and the tourism industry from China and Mongolia evaluated the route’s potential for road trips. In addition, Irkutsk Oblast is running a similar preview tour, with the 'Baikal Tale' traveling the Baikal‑Irkutsk‑Krasnoyarsk‑Novosibirsk‑Yekaterinburg‑Perm‑Moscow line, showing how far the initiative stretches geographically.

What to expect from the project in the coming years

The project is now in an active testing phase: service details have been refined, logistical schemes checked, and feedback from Chinese partners collected. After that a large‑scale launch of the cruise is planned, which could become a new brand for tourists who want to learn about the history of tea trade while enjoying modern railway comforts. If everything stays on track, within the next decade the 'Great Tea Route' could become one of the signature offerings of Trans‑Siberian tourism.

Based on materials from: trn-news.ru.