The Jinxiu Tianfu Express is the flagship of the Panda Express family: a Panda Express flagship with the largest suites in that stable, seven themed menus and heritage workshops aboard. Daytime is spent at the sights below; nights move the train. Boarding is at Chengdu Anjing Station, with joining points also at Lanzhou and Urumqi on the Xinjiang panorama.
The northern leg · lakes and grasslands
Heavenly Lake (Tianchi)
The alpine lake beneath Bogda Peak east of Urumqi, the classic opening excursion of the panorama before the train points north.
Kanas Lake & Hemu Village
The glacial turquoise lake and the wooden Tuvan village of Hemu in the Altay north, the most photographed pairing on any Xinjiang itinerary. Built into the panorama's northern loop, with two evenings the operator bills as signatures: a private Tuvan music recital performed by members of one of China's smallest ethnic groups, and tea breaks laid out at Hemu among the birches.
Sayram Lake & Nalati Grasslands
The sapphire alpine lake at 2,073 m and the "Green Island of the Tianshan" grassland, threading the Ili corridor between the northern and southern legs.
Bonfire evenings & a private lake cruise
Two moments reserved for the Ili combinations. On Kalajun departures, dinner is followed by a bonfire evening at a grassland camp. On the Zhaosu routing, guests stay at a view-facing guesthouse by Yuhu Lake and board a private boat at dusk to chase the sunset, with dinner served on the water.
The southern leg · the old Silk Road
Kuqa
The ancient kingdom of Kucha on the northern edge of the Tarim, gateway to the Tianshan canyon country and a scheduled stop on the panorama's southern arc. At the Kizilia Grand Canyon, red-sandstone ravines come with a private tea break laid on during the visit.
Kashgar
The old Silk Road city at the western reach of the itinerary: the Old City lanes, Id Kah Mosque and the bazaar culture that made Kashgar famous. The Pamir finale adds a Tajik family visit with eagle-flute and eagle-dance performances, both listed as national intangible heritage, and a farewell tea break in the Old City before boarding.
Turpan
The oasis of the karez wells, Jiaohe ruins and Flaming Mountains, listed on the operator's plan page as the panorama finale. The operator's 2027 sales handbook instead closes the programme in Kashgar and shows no Turpan day; we confirm which finale runs on your departure in writing.
The Duku Highway crossing
Peak-summer sailings of the panorama include the Duku Highway crossing itself, one of the route's signature drives. One rule matters for overseas passports: the Bayanbulak section is not open to foreign passports, and on departures that include it foreign-passport guests travel a substitute routing arranged by the operator (Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan documents travel the full route). Ask which routing applies to your departure and read the Duku Highway guide before booking.
Editions and the southwest line
- · Tianshan Mu Ge edition (2027, six sailings): the standard 16-day panorama, May to October.
- · Liujin Song Ge edition (2027, two sailings): the peak-summer configuration timed for late August and mid-September, when the Duku Highway and the Pamir skies are at their best.
- · 13-day shortened edition: a compact panorama (the 20 October 2026 sailing was the first), for guests who want the arc without the full fortnight.
- · Southwest seasonal departures: a nine-day line through Xichang, Lijiang, Shangri-La and Tengchong, a softer highland companion to the Xinjiang panorama.
Based on the operator's published itineraries and 2026/2027 releases. The tour director may adjust the sequence of visits for weather or road conditions. Entrance inclusions follow each edition's fare schedule; confirm the written breakdown for your sailing before paying a deposit.