What is a Tourist Train?
In the flowing car window, one encounters the magnificent mountain and diver scenery.
A reimagined travel experience—a scenic hotel on the rails. An affordable way to travel around Xinjiang.
Ever dreamed of exploring by day and traveling to your next destination by night?
Travel by night, explore by day: drift to your next destination in calm as the train moves, and wake up to a breathtaking new landscape. This 16-day epic journey is ride across Xinjiang’s most extraordinary scenery.
Follow a over 8,000km railway loop linking northern and southern Xinjiang’s iconic spots: fiery deserts, lush oases, alpine flower seas, hidden grasslands. Dive into local life, savor authentic flavors and immerse in Uyghur and border culture.
8,000km Panoramic Epic Route
One trip to experience Xinjiang’s most stunning natural beauty and diverse cultures.
Travel by Night, Explore by Day
Cover thousands of miles in sleep, wake up at your destination. Ditch packing hassles—spend all your vacation on exploration.
All-Inclusive or partial Inclusive, the choice is yours.
Fare covers: exclusive cabin, star hotels/boutique homestays, all attraction tickets, 30 main meals + 15 breakfasts (including local feasts), guides, ground transport, airport-hotel transfers/or not select, economy meal standard/preferred meal standard, 8 nights on the Panda Tourist Train, 7 start/end night hotel stays.
Small Exclusive Group (≈100 Guests)
Personalized care, more time with cultural guides, flexible itineraries, authentic local experiences.
Top-Onboard Facilities
Cultural exhibition area, music bar, coffee lounge, small theater. Free unlimited soft drinks, alcohol & coffee—sip cocktails and chat with new friends to mellow music.
Panda & Sichuan Cultural Immersion
Glazed blue exterior, the second-generation panda-themed tourist train. Sichuan opera face-changing on board, authentic Xinjiang song & dance off the train.
24/7 Butler-Style Service
14-car train with 5 carriage types: lounge, dining, kitchen, entertainment, guest cabins. Cantonese & modern Sichuan cuisine by master chefs. Panda butlers and certified medical staff accompanied them.
Day 1: Chengdu/Lanzhou → Kashgar | Chauffeured to Chengdu Anjing Station, panda welcome, Sichuan opera, riddle games. (train dinner)
Day 2: Panda-themed train for leisure and sightseeing | Unique geographical scenery of Northwest Xinjiang along the way, play board games & Sichuan mahjong with new friends.（Three meals a day on the train）
Day 3: Kashgar | Arrive afternoon, welcome dinner | Overnight in Kashgar hotel. （Breakfast and lunch on the train, dinner in the dining）
Day 4: Kashgar-Tasman | White Sand Mountain & Lake, Karakul Lake, Panlong Ancient Road| Stay at 3-diamond/ Comfort hotel.（Hotel breakfast, lunch and dinner at the restaurant）
Day 5: Tasman-Kashgar | Stone City, Golden Grassland, Tajik Family Visit | Stay at 3-diamond/ Comfort hotel.（Hotel breakfast, lunch and dinner at the restaurant）
Day 6: Kashgar → Kuqa | Kashgar Old Town, Grand Mosque, Xiangfei Attractions | Panda-themed train cabin.（Hotel breakfast, lunch and dinner at the restaurant）
Day 7: Kuqa → Bayinbuluke/Narat | Morning arrival, Tianshan Grand Canyon, Duku Highway (South) crossing, Swan Lake Scenic Area | Stay at 3-diamond/ Comfort hotel.（Breakfast on the train, lunch and dinner at the restaurant）
Day 8: Bayinbuluke/Narat → Yining |Narat Grassland | Stay at 5-diamond/ high-end hotel.（Hotel breakfast, lunch and dinner at the restaurant）
Day 9: Yining → Beitun | Sayram Lake tour | Panda-themed train cabin.（Hotel breakfast, lunch and dinner at the restaurant）
Day 10: Beitun → Burqin → Jiadengyu | Wucaitan (Five-Colored Beach) | the Ertis River | Jiadengyu B&B (Hotel). （Breakfast on the train, lunch and dinner at the restaurant）
Day 11: Jiadengyu → Kenas → Hemu | Kenas Scenic Area| Three Bays | Hemu B&B (Hotel).（Hotel breakfast, lunch and dinner at the restaurant）
Day 12: Hemu → Beitun → Urumqi | Hemu Scenic Area | Tuva village | Panda-themed train cabin.（Hotel breakfast, lunch and dinner at the restaurant）
Day 13: Urumqi | Tianshan Heavenly Lake | Stay at 5-diamond/ high-end hotel.（Breakfast on the train, lunch and dinner at the restaurant）
Day 14: Urumqi → Turpan| Karez Well, Flaming Mountains, Return Trip | Panda-themed train cabin.（Breakfast on the hotel, lunch at the restaurant, and dinner at the train）
Day 15-16: Turpan → Chengdu | Farewell to distinguished guests | Panda-themed train cabin(Day 15). (Day 15, train dinner; Day 16 Breakfast on the train)
The planned itinerary description is for reference only. Information such as the stops, travel time, and routes of the tourist train are subject to final adjustments by the Ministry of Railways of China.
panda train map plan view: click to enlargeKey Itinerary Notes
White Sand Mountain & Lake (Days 4): At an altitude of approximately 3300 meters, the tour takes about 40 minutes.
This is a pristine landscape painting formed by blue skies, white clouds, snow-capped mountains, lakes, and sand dunes. The Kongur Jiubie Peak stands majestically on both sides of the lake, creating a spectacular scene. The Flowing Sand River described in *Journey to the West* is located here..
Karakol Lake (Days 4):At an altitude of approximately 3600 meters, the tour takes about 40 minutes.
Karakol, meaning "Black Sea," is a lake 30 meters deep with a total area of 10 square kilometers. It is a rare high-altitude lake in the world, surrounded by icy peaks and snow-capped mountains. Visitors can see world-famous peaks over 7000 meters in altitude up close, such as the three majestic Kunlun Mountains: Kongur Tagh (7719m), Kongur Jiubie (7530m), and Muztagh Ata (7546m). These three mountains stand majestically on the Pamir Plateau, creating a spectacular sight.
Today's tour route is located in a high-altitude area, which can easily lead to altitude sickness and other altitude-related complications. It is recommended that tourists over 65 years of age or with pre-existing medical conditions do not participate in today's sightseeing and instead choose to rest or engage in free activities within the city.
Sayram Lake (Days 9): "The last tear of the Atlantic Ocean"—It is the farthest place that the warm, moist air currents of the Atlantic can reach. It is the highest and largest alpine cold-water lake in Xinjiang. Crystal-blue waters, snow-capped mountains blending with the sky.
Wucaitan (Five-Colored Beach) (Days 10): Here you'll find unique Yardang landforms: undulating gullies and colorful, comb-like slopes and beaches, creating a magnificent and spectacular landscape.
Tianchi Scenic Area (Days 13): This is a world-renowned alpine lake, a national 5A-level scenic area known as the "Jade Pool of the Human World". Upon arrival, you will be led by a dedicated guide to enter the scenic area by shuttle bus. You can view eight famous landscapes, including the Stone Gate Line, the Pine Trees of Xishan, the Azure Moon Over the Dragon Pool, and the Sea-Stabilizing Needle, and enjoy a distant view of the majestic Bogda Snow Mountain.
Karez Well (Days 14): This is a unique irrigation system in Xinjiang, an underground artificial river, which is known as one of the three great ancient engineering projects in China, along with the Great Wall and the Grand Canal.
If the itinerary prevents visits to Bayinbuluke and the southern section of the Duku Highway, a reasonable itinerary will be arranged for the seventh day, when traveling by special train to Yining: a suggested itinerary of visiting the northern section of the Duku Highway, or choosing between Nalati or Yining Liuxing Street, with no change in cost.
Why Choose This Tourist Train?
Onboard Service & Transfer Exclusive 24/7 Service Team professionals for total peace of mind: Panda Butlers and certified medical staff traveling with tourists on the train.
Themed Leisure Spaces: 1 entertainment and leisure carriage; 1 beverage bar; 1 karaoke room; 2 card and chess rooms; 1 restaurant carriage.
There are multiple themed leisure zones feature private boxes , catering to family fun, reading with tea, business salons and more.Maybe you could learn mahjong/gomoku/poker with new friends!
Door-to-Door Transfer & Hotel Service-Day Before Departure
1. Fly into Chengdu/Lanzhou/Urumqi?
We arrange airport pickup + 1-night 4-diamond hotel stay (Superior Quadruple Room 5-diamond hotel).
2. Last Day-Need an overnight stay in Chengdu before your flight?
If you need airport drop-off service, please contact us to make an additional reservation.
About Chengdu Anjing Railway Station
China’s first dedicated tourist train base station—connection hub for Panda Express. Easy rail access to western Sichuan’s top spots (Qingcheng Mountain, Dujiangyan, Jiuzhaigou).Fully equipped bus, taxi & ride-hailing pick-up/drop-off points outside the station.
Cabin Options
Private compartments feature soundproof sliding doors, custom-designed Panda bedding and cushions, charging ports, reading lights, luggage compartments, call buttons, LCD TVs, and complimentary on-demand video. Toilets and showers are located in the common areas of the carriages.The superior quadruple room has wooden beds.
Cabin Type |
Ideal For |
Bed Size |
Superior Quadruple Room(6.5M²) |
Couples/ friends(2-4 adults) |
4 berths |
Standard Quadruple Room(3.5M²) |
Couples/ friends(2-4 adults) |
4 berths |
All types can be upgraded to private rooms.
Superior Quadruple Room: Upgrade to 2 people sharing a room + 3000 USD. Upgrade to 3 people sharing a room + 1500 USD.
Standard Quadruple Room: Upgrade to 2 people sharing a room +2150 USD. Upgrade to 3 people sharing a room +1077USD.
Cabin Type |
Adult (per person) |
Child <= 12 (Do not occupy berths) |
Superior Quadruple Room(6.5M²) |
$4375 |
$1370 |
Standard Quadruple Room(3.5M²) |
$2550 |
$1060 |
Superior Quadruple Room：
Standard Quadruple Room：
Includes: onboard meals, hotel breakfast, attraction tickets/internal transport, coach seat, all other meals, guide and driver fees
Excludes: train berth, hotel bed
Children will be charged the adult price when purchasing tickets; please don't worry, you will receive a refund of the price difference later.
If a child needs to occupy a sleeper berth, please purchase a berth at the adult ticket price.
2026 Departure Dates
24 July | 10 July | 27 July | 13 August | 30 August(Autumn itinerary) | 16 September(Autumn itinerary)
2027 Departure Dates
8 June | 24 June | 10 July | 27 July | 13 August | 30 August(Autumn itinerary) | 16 September(Autumn itinerary)
Important Booking Tips
- Train seats are high international demand–book 3–12 months in advance to secure your spot.
- 2027 departures (June–August) are now open for booking.
- Other same-route options: Panda Express·ChengDu (2027 bookable), Splendid Tianfu Express (2027 bookable).
Pricing Inclusions
Meals: 15 breakfasts, 29 main meals, free late-night snacks on board.
Accommodation: 5-diamond/luxury hotels (Kashgar/Urumqi); 4-diamond hotels (Yining);3-diamond hotels (Narat/Bayanbulak); Jiadengyu/Burqin features distinctive homestays (hotels).
Tickets: Superior Quadruple Room include all attraction tickets + internal scenic transport (group rate – no discounts or refunds).
Insurance: 1 group travel accident insurance policy per person.
Guides and Staff: 3+ years experienced local certified guides; full-time escorts; onboard Panda Butlers & medical staff
1.A formal contract will be signed to protect both parties’ rights.
2.Deposit & Cancellation Policy (Personal Reasons)
Before departure: 50% of total contract amount charged
1–14 days before departure: 70% of total contract amount charged
On departure day: 85% of total contract amount charged
Free traveler change up to 3 days before departure (excl. pre-booked flights)
3.Itinerary Change Policy
Duku Highway: Opened on 31 May, the opening hours of the Duku Highway are subject to change each year due to natural weather conditions. If closed by force majeure (weather/disasters/policies), train travels Kuqa→Yining directly (Bayanbulak visit cancelled) – 110USD/person refund.
Documents: Passport (≥6 months validity after the trip)
Sun Protection: High-SPF sunscreen, sunglasses, sun hat (essential for Xinjiang’s strong sunshine)
Clothing: Layered dressing (huge day and night temperature differences); a warm jacket is must.
Shoes: Comfortable walking shoes for long explorations.
Luggage: Pack light (cabin space limited); public luggage compartment available on board.
Recommended Items: Camera, personal medication, power bank.
Choosing Panda Express·ShiFang is more than a trip—it’s a cultural immersion in a mobile palace. We handle all planning and hassles, so every day is dedicated to feeling, connecting and creating.
Witness the Pamir Plateau’s snow-capped peaks glow gold at sunset, experience the Duku Highway’s "four seasons in one day", listen to Kashgar Old Town’s thousand-year stories, and watch Sayram Lake’s sapphire blue and Kanas’ hidden beauty pass by your window.
These moments will stay with you forever, shining bright in your life’s story.
We look forward to welcoming you on board—a once-in-a-lifetime journey to the heart of Xinjiang!
Panda Train·ChengDu – 2027 Departures (Now Open for Booking)
Panda Train·Splendid Tianfu Express – 2027 Departures (Now Open for Booking)