The operator of the Panda Express Chengdu has published its full 2027 Xinjiang programme, and demand is already running ahead of supply: several sailings are sold out, and 2028 departures are now open for booking. For travellers planning the flagship panda-themed luxury train’s 16-day north-and-south Xinjiang loop, here is everything confirmed so far, from the route and cabins to the all-inclusive package and how to secure a berth.
The train — a “Mobile Tianfu Scroll”
The Chengdu is China Railway Chengdu Group’s first high-end themed tourist train, refurbished from 25G-series passenger cars and styled as a “Mobile Tianfu Scroll” (移动天府画卷). Its elegant liuli-blue livery follows the “Rhythms of Mountains and Rivers” theme, inspired by the Gongga and Xiling snow mountains, with a hidden Sun Bird (太阳神鸟) motif. Interior and brand design were led by studios including Singapore’s HBA (Hirsch Bedner Associates) and Taiwan’s Kenmer Design (肯默设计), with the panda as the core IP weaving Sichuan, Chongqing and Guizhou folk culture into every carriage.
The train carries 18 cars and 54 private en-suite cabins (108 standard / 132 maximum): 12 sleeper cabins, 2 dining cars, 2 entertainment cars, 1 crew car and 1 power car. It is deliberately intimate — a small, quiet load built for slow, panoramic travel.
The 2027 route — 16 days, north and south Xinjiang
Each sailing is a 16-day, fully circular journey (excluding arrival and departure days) that sweeps both north and south Xinjiang in a single booking, based from Xinjiang with dual boarding in Chengdu (Anjing Station) and Lanzhou. The season runs May–October — Xinjiang’s best travel window. The train threads the Tianshan range to reach Kashgar, Kuqa, Yili and Turpan, with highlights such as Kanas, Hemu, Bayanbulak, the Nalati grasslands and the Kashgar Old Town.
Two themed sailings
2027 is split between two themed editions:
- Zhongxia Changjuan 仲夏长卷 (Midsummer Scroll) — May to August. Dates: 4 Jun, 21 Jun, 8 Jul, 25 Jul, 11 Aug. From RMB 66,999 (You Ran Ju) / RMB 70,999 (Shi Yi Ju).
- Qiuyun Liujing 秋韵鎏境 (Autumn Gilt) — August to September. Dates: 28 Aug, 14 Sep. From RMB 70,999 (You Ran Ju) / RMB 74,999 (Shi Yi Ju).
Prices are operator-published reference rates for 2027; some sailings are already sold out, so the published list is a guide rather than a guarantee of availability.
Cabins — You Ran Ju & Shi Yi Ju
Two cabin categories share dry-wet separated en-suite bathrooms with Dyson hairdryers, voice-controlled lighting and A/C, full-train Wi-Fi, a mini-bar and a 1.5 m picture window onto the passing snow-mountains, grasslands and Gobi:
- You Ran Ju 悦然居 — ~8 m² twin cabin, 30 cabins. Two single beds, from RMB 66,999.
- Shi Yi Ju 诗意居 — ~10 m² cabin, 24 cabins, configurable as king, twin or family (sleeps 2 adults + 2 children), from RMB 70,999.
All-inclusive, by design
The Chengdu is sold as a fully all-inclusive rail package — train berth, hotel, attraction tickets, dining, coach transfers, guide and insurance — never as a standalone train ticket. On board, 18 panda butlers and a resort ambassador look after every guest around the clock, backed by medical staff and a star-chef brigade. Family and senior travellers are explicitly catered for: a Family Park (亲子乐园) with children’s books, play and temporary childcare, and an Elder Reading & Tea Bar (阅途茶吧) at the carriage ends.
How to book (and why early)
Book through the official hotline 400-012-3545, the 12306 railway-tourism channel, or an authorised travel agency with a signed contract. Because the train runs on fixed monthly sailings rather than daily departures, and golden-season berths sell out, the operator advises locking in a date as early as possible; 2028 departures are already open. International guests should confirm cabins and availability through a curator such as China Expresses for English-language coordination.
View the Panda Express Chengdu →Ask About a Departure
Source: operator’s official WeChat (26 Aug 2026) and the earlier 2027 schedule release (5 Aug 2026). Dates and fares are operator-published reference rates; confirm at enquiry. 2028 departures are open for booking.