Chengdu - Bangkok by High-Speed Train - part 3: Kunming - Mohan (China/Laos Border)

In part three of my overland rail journey from Chengdu to Bangkok, I ride First Class on train D87 from freezing Kunming South down to the Chinese border station at Mohan. Along the way, we cross the towering Red River Fault, pass through the foggy Black River Valley, and descend into the tropical heat of Xishuangbanna before clearing Chinese exit immigration. Train: D87 From: Kunming South railway station, Yunnan Province, China To: Vientiane railway station, Laos Route covered: Kunming - Mohan, border China/Laos Train operator: China Railway Kunming Group Route via: Yuxi, Red River Fault, Puer, Xishuangbanna Lines used: Kunming–Yuxi–Hekou Intercity line, Yuxi–Mohan Railway (Yumo Railway) Travel class: First Class Car no.: 08 Seat no.: 04F Ticket fare: CNY 864 (approx. EUR 111) Ticket booked on: 12306.cn app Departure from Hamburg Hbf: 08h08 China Standard Time Arrival in Mohan: 12h31 Travel season: January 2026 Electric locomotive : FXD3-J0208, built by CRRC Dalian in 2021 Electric multiple unit type: CR200J3-B Registration: CR200J-4005 00:00 Preview Summary 03:12 Kunming South Railway station 04:37 CR200J3-B electric multiple unit Kunming-Vientiane 06:46 Empty First Class cabin 08:37 Yuxi railway station 10:23 Crossing Red River Fault 12:22 Fog in Black River Valley 14:21 Crossing Mekong River 15:38 Xishuangbanna station 17:17 Mohan, border station of China 18:39 China Exit Immigration checkpoint