Originally Posted by jiejie

OK, this is more of a problem....er adventure. The border crossing is the lesser of the challenges. The issue is getting the Mongolian train out of Zamyn Uud to UB without getting stuck for a couple of days. This part I haven't personally had to do, but it's a real bee-yitch. There are some recent (past year or so) reports floating around the internet detailing how to do this once you get to Zamyn Uud. Some days there is only one train a day (morning) to UB; other days there is a late afternoon train and provided you can cross the border in the morning on one of those days, you stand a chance of getting a ticket in the afternoon. No way to buy in advance; you have to "queue" and if you think Chinese are bad about not respecting queues, you have yet to see the even wilder Mongolian version--but you'll get some of that at Mongolian Entry Immigration "queue!" If you cannot get a ticket for the afternoon train or you arrive on a day where it isn't scheduled, you'll have to spend the night in Z-U and expect it will be somewhat rustic. Then you'll have to scrum for the morning train ticket. Eventually you'll be successful as long as you are willing to be assertive--your reward will be getting from Beijing to UB for maybe USD 100 or less in total cost.



No, No, No. Not the right play. At all costs avoid that slow clunker train from Hohhot to Erlian. If you don't want to fly on the Capital Airlines flight PEK-ERL, the best way to do this is take any PEK train heading to Hohhot or Baotou, only as far as Jining (Jining Nan station) and get off. Hohhot is too far. Jining is often shown on maps as Ulanqab. Take the bus from there. Jining Nan is a major junction station and multiple daily trains stop there. From train station, Jining long distance bus station is across the main road and north (left) about 5 minutes walk. Bus to Erlian takes about 5 hours including a midway stop, on decent to excellent road. Most buses leave in the morning, one or two in first half of afternoon. If you have to choose an overnight in Erlian or Z-U, pick Erlian. But with careful timing and a spot of luck, you can escape without getting stuck at either.

It is true that you cannot cross the border on foot (true for either direction) but must be in a vehicle. Most travelers negotiate for a ride in a Jeep. Loaded with goods heading into Mongolia, usually empty heading into China.