The Panda Express Chengdu's signature long-haul route. Operated by Chengdu Culture & Tourism Group. 18 cars, 54 en-suite rooms accommodating 108-132 guests. The 2025 debut season saw all 10 Xinjiang departures sell out, with approximately 70 percent inbound international guests. This is the journey that put the Panda Express on the map.
Two halves of Xinjiang. North of the range is landscape: Kanas, Hemu and the northern grasslands. South is the Silk Road: Kuqa, the ancient kingdom of Kucha, and Kashgar. A programme that covers both is the one worth the days. One note for overseas travellers: the Bayanbulak section of the Duku Highway is not open to foreign passports (Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan documents travel the full route), so those sectors run on a substitute routing for foreign-passport guests. See the Xinjiang destination guide.
Depart from Chengdu Anjing Station. Settle into your en-suite cabin. The Panda Express Chengdu's sapphire blue livery and Golden Sun Bird motif set the tone. Evening onboard with a Sichuan-meets-Xinjiang welcome dinner.
Two days crossing from Sichuan through Gansu province and into the Hexi Corridor. Onboard life: the lounge car hosts tea ceremonies and mahjong sessions. The observation car provides panoramic views of the changing landscape, from subtropical green to desert gold.
First Xinjiang stop: Turpan, the second-lowest depression on Earth (154 metres below sea level). Visit the ancient Jiaohe ruins, a Silk Road city carved from raw earth. The Flaming Mountains glow red at sunset. The karez irrigation tunnels, an engineering marvel 2,000 years old.
Morning in Urumqi. Afternoon at Heavenly Lake (Tianchi), a pristine alpine lake at 1,980 metres backed by the snow-capped Bogda Peak. Kazakh herders offer horseback rides along the shore.
Two days in Xinjiang's far north. Hemu's wooden cabins in a birch-forested valley. Kanas Lake, whose colour shifts from turquoise to deep blue. Tuvan village visit. This is the 'Switzerland of Xinjiang' at its most spectacular. Hotel nights in the Altay region.
Three days in the Tianshan heartland. Nalati's rolling alpine meadows at 2,000 metres. Yurt lunch with Kazakh herders. Sayram Lake, the largest alpine lake in the Tianshan. Return to train for overnight transits.
The Duku Highway crossing from north to south. Kuqa: the Kizil Thousand-Buddha Caves, Kuqa Grand Mosque, the old-town bazaar. The train skirts the northern edge of the Taklamakan Desert.
The Duku Highway is open to mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan travel documents. The Bayanbulak section alone is not open to holders of foreign passports; where an itinerary includes that section, foreign-passport guests travel a substitute routing arranged by the operator. Overseas guests travel a substitute routing arranged by the operator. Full guide.
Two days in Kashgar. The Sunday Grand Bazaar. The Id Kah Mosque. The mud-brick alleys of the old city. The Abakh Khoja Tomb. Tea houses, craft workshops, and the feeling of standing at the crossroads of Central Asia.
A free day in Kashgar with your guide available for optional excursions: a visit to a carpet workshop, a cooking class with a Uyghur family, or simply exploring the old city at your own pace. Farewell dinner in a restored courtyard.
Transfer to Kashgar Airport. Journey ends.
| Suite Tier | Per Person (RMB) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard En-Suite (Reference) | From ¥55,900 | Per person, double occupancy. 2025 debut pricing for reference. 2026 pricing to be confirmed. |
| Premium Suite (Reference) | Enquire | Limited availability. Larger configuration. |
Chengdu Culture & Tourism Group's premium luxury train. 18 cars, 54 en-suite rooms. Approximately 70% inbound international guests. Sichuan cuisine galley, children's activity car, and mahjong lounge.
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