What governs a Jinxiu Tianfu booking: the booking channels, the operator's cancellation ladder and free name-change window, third-guest and child rates, the health and insurance rules, and where 2027 availability currently stands. These are the operator's published terms; the clause in your signed contract is authoritative.
How a booking runs, start to finish
Enquire and choose. Tell us the dates and the cabin grade. We reply with the open sailings on the operator's current chart; rooms marked as releasable depend on operator coordination and are confirmed in writing before any deposit.
Written confirmation. Before any money moves, we confirm in writing: sailing date, cabin grade, occupancy, the exact fare, and the routing that applies to your passports.
Passport scan. A clear scan of each traveller's passport is needed at booking; the same document feeds the electronic border permit for the Pamir sectors, which the operator arranges as part of the tour.
Deposit. A deposit locks your cabin grade and departure and is non-refundable once paid. The exact deposit amount for your departure is confirmed in writing at booking.
Balance and documents. The balance is due 30 days before departure; the pre-departure documents (assembly point, timing, day-by-day schedule) are issued by the operator per its published schedule.
The train does not sell through 12306. It is sold through the operator's authorised channels: the hotline 400-988-3721 (8:30 to 22:30 daily, Chinese-language service) and the operator's authorised travel agencies. For our international clientele, China Expresses holds dedicated allocation on the train, can issue tickets directly, and handles the booking end to end, including the two-night Chengdu pre-extension and the Kanas post-extension.
The cancellation ladder
Cancellation notice
Fare retained
Deposit paid
Deposit not refundable
15–29 days before departure
50% of fare retained
1–14 days before departure
85% retained
Day of departure
100% retained
Name change
Free of penalty up to 3 days before departure
Two general clauses sit alongside the ladder: departure dates, stops, routing and duration are ultimately set by final railway dispatch commands, with schedule changes notified at least 7 days in advance and, if a sailing cannot operate at all, at least 5 days ahead; and force-majeure costs sit outside the fare. Train-by-train context across the fleet is on our cancellation policy page.
Third guests, children and single rooms
Third guest without a train berth: RMB 39,880; they stay in the hotels with the group.
Children 12 or under: RMB 16,880 sharing with a full-paying adult. The child fare does not include a separate train berth or hotel bed; meals, transport, tickets and guide services are covered.
Land single supplement: RMB 8,000 when a hotel room is occupied alone.
What the fare includes
Transport: your Jinxiu Tianfu room for the rail nights, plus 2+1 first-class land coaches, VIP shuttle access at the scenic areas and 7-seat business vehicles on the smaller route legs.
Meals: train breakfasts (RMB 88) and dinners (RMB 188); on the ground, hotel breakfasts, lunches of RMB 120 to 150 and speciality banquets of RMB 150 to 200 per person.
Tickets: entrance tickets and essential sightseeing transport for the sights listed in your itinerary.
Hotels: the listed hotels, two sharing a room, on the ground nights of your chosen routing. The train carries most nights; how many hotel nights apply depends on the route combination and is confirmed in writing.
Crew: the train's butler team, a professional photographer, a certified medic and a tour director throughout.
Insurance: a included travel accident policy with maximum cover of RMB 800,000 (own illness is not covered).
What is not included
Anything not listed under the inclusions above.
Extra costs caused by transport delays or cancellations, war, strikes or natural disasters.
Land single supplement of RMB 8,000 when a hotel room is occupied alone (hotel rooms are twin-share).
Children 12 or under do not include a train berth or a hotel bed.
Health and insurance
Insurance: a travel accident policy is included, with a maximum cover of RMB 800,000.
Health: guests aged 70 and above submit a medical check from the last six months plus a health declaration; guests 75 and above travel with an accompanying family member.
On the ground: the land programme runs with two guides, a butler team and a certified medic travelling with the group throughout.
Practical tips for the route
Altitude: the route crosses high-altitude ground, notably the Pamir leg. The operator advises bringing medication for altitude sickness and preparing your health accordingly before departure.
Sun and dry air: the climate along the route is dry with strong ultraviolet light. Pack sunglasses, a sun hat, sunscreen and lip balm, and reapply through the day.
Time and signal: the daily rhythm in the northwest runs about two hours behind inland China; adjust your schedule accordingly. Signal is weak at some remote sights, so let family know your plan and download offline maps before setting out.
Where availability stands (operator chart, October 2026)
Sold out in both grades: 5 June, 29 August and 15 September 2027.
Widest availability: 9 and 26 July, with three JinTa rooms and JinWo open.
On request: 19 May and 22 June (releasable rooms depend on operator coordination, confirmed in writing).
Frequently asked questions
No. The operator holds nothing without the deposit. What we can do before that is confirm live availability in writing and place your request the moment you decide; on the July sailings, which hold the widest 2027 availability, the good rooms are still open but they are moving.
The journey starts and ends in Chengdu. Boarding is also possible at Deyang, Mianyang, Guangyuan, Jiangyou and Lanzhou, and an Urumqi join can be arranged on request. The land programme includes free airport and station transfers in Chengdu, Lanzhou and Urumqi.
Departure dates, stops, routing and duration are ultimately set by final railway dispatch commands, with changes notified up to 7 days in advance. If a change materially affects your booking, we take it up with the operator on your behalf under the contract terms.
