Silk Road Express Itineraries

The eight journeys at a glance

Journey 1 · Zhuying Xiyu, the North-South Panorama, 17 days

The flagship 2027 product: a full loop from Xining across the Dahei (Dahaidao) yardangs, the Altay lakes and forests, the Ili valley, the Kuqa gorges and Kashgar to the Pamir plateau, then two nights aboard on the return across the Tianshan. The operator's page pairs the train with Wanda Revel, Conrad, InterContinental and Indigo hotels and stages most days as a choice of private excursions by small vehicle. 2027 dates were not yet published on the operator's page at the time of writing; the operator's plan points to two sailings in the late-May to June window.

Journey 2 · Golden Autumn, South Xinjiang, 7 days

The poplar-season run, two sailings only: October 20 forward, October 25 reverse (2027). The operator's day plan runs Xining to Hami, the Dahaidao crossing, a Turpan choice day, Luntai's poplar forest by heritage mini-train, and two days in Kashgar. Note that the 2027 day plan keeps the touring east of Kashgar: the operator's page does not include a Pamir day on this journey.

Journey 3 · Splendour, Qinghai-Gansu, 5 days

The compact classic, Xining to Dunhuang (or reverse), with 18 sailings across the 2027 season: April 30, then July 7 through August 15, and September 30 through October 7, each direction paired with a next-day reverse. Hotels are the Wanda Revel in Xining and Dunhuang. A paid Qinghai Lake or Kanbula first-day option is available at a RMB 3,000 per person supplement (minimum two guests).

The Winter Carnival collection, 2026/27

In the non-operating season the train moves south. The five journeys below are published by the operator through posters and mirrored by licensed channels; the stage notes come from those publications, not from a verified day plan, so treat them as the shape of the journey rather than a confirmed schedule. Fares across the collection sit on the train page: Changle twin from RMB 26,666 per person on the four-day journeys (early-bird from 23,999) and from RMB 13,500 on Cloudrail.

Qian-Gui Frontier, 4 days: Kunming, Xingyi, Chongzuo, Shenzhen

Three departures only: forward December 12 and 18, reverse December 15, 2026. The operator's poster (October 2026 edition) frames the journey as a winter warm-escape across the Guizhou-Guangxi border country: cycling among the karst peaks of southwest Guizhou, batik and embroidery in Buyi villages, a bamboo-raft glide at the Detian waterfall, the waterside Jingxi Goose Spring, and the China-Vietnam border landscape. All cabins have private bathrooms; the poster counts three train breakfasts plus five signature meals with a post-dinner cocktail hour, a dedicated resort ambassador and a photographer throughout, and no shopping stops. Booking the poster journeys (Qian-Gui Frontier, Dianyue Trail, Canger Tea Journey and Diannan Impression) carries the operator's loyalty credit of RMB 10,000 per suite toward selected 2027 departures; ask us to confirm the eligible routes in writing.

Diannan Impression, 4 days: Chengdu, Xishuangbanna, Shiping, Kunming

One sailing, November 27, 2026, boarding at Chengdu: the only winter journey that starts in Sichuan. The operator's poster (August 2026 edition) confirms the journey's signature moments: a rainforest trek and stream crossing in Xishuangbanna with a local guide, then Shiping's century of railway history, riding the heritage metre-gauge mini-train to a Yunnan-French long-table banquet on the centenary platform. Dining aboard runs on antique silver paired with Jingdezhen porcelain, with the 24-hour butler and photographer throughout. Channel-published stages add a welcome dinner and cocktail hour on day 1 and Yilong Lake before dispersal at Kunming. The journey also carries the operator's RMB 10,000 per-suite loyalty credit toward selected 2027 departures; we confirm the eligible routes in writing.

Canger Tea Journey, 4 days: Kunming loop via Xishuangbanna and Dali

Two sailings, November 30 and December 6, 2026, both forward on the Kunming loop. The operator's poster (August 2026 edition) fills in the shape: four days with no hotel changes, the train moving by night so each morning opens on new scenery. In Xishuangbanna an indigenous guide leads a rainforest stream trek; in Dali the journey adds a Xizhou heritage half-day, hands-on jiama block printing, rubbings and Wama-cat clay figures with Bai artisans. Dining is Michelin-grade on antique silver, with cocktail evenings and film screenings aboard. The journey also carries the operator's RMB 10,000 per-suite loyalty credit toward selected 2027 departures; we confirm the eligible routes in writing.

Dianyue Trail, 4 days: Kunming loop via Xishuangbanna and Hekou

Two sailings, December 3 and 9, 2026, both forward on the Kunming loop. The operator's poster (August 2026 edition) gives the journey its signature moments: a long cable-car ascent to the “roof of Indochina” over a sea of clouds, and Vietnamese coffee beside the old Yunnan-Vietnam railway bridge as a century-old metre-gauge train passes. Dinner is Michelin-grade service on antique silver, followed by the cocktail hour, with the 24-hour butler and journey photographer throughout. The journey also carries the operator's RMB 10,000 per-suite loyalty credit toward selected 2027 departures; we confirm the eligible routes in writing. Winter cherry blossom is possible in December.

Cloudrail Escape, 2 days: three city-to-city sailings

The train itself is the destination: Xining to Chengdu on November 25, 2026; Shenzhen to Shanghai on December 22, 2026; Shanghai to Xi'an on January 11, 2027. No fixed touring; fares from RMB 13,500 per person (early-bird from 12,150), the top suite at RMB 67,500.

Reading the tables

• Most days are a choice of private excursions. The operator splits each touring day into two or three lines (classic, family, adventure) with dedicated small vehicles; your party picks one per day. Supplements apply to a few options, such as the Qinghai Lake first day on Splendour (RMB 3,000 per person).
• Sequence is the operator's, not ours. The operator's own pages note that train times are unconfirmed and touring times are indicative until the railway calendar is fixed; the tour director may adjust the order of visits without dropping listed sights.
• Bayanbulak is document-restricted. On the panorama journey's Ili days, the operator's own note states the Bayanbulak grassland is open to mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan documents only; foreign-passport guests pass through the corridor without entering the scenic area. The other Ili lines (Sayram, Nalati) carry no such restriction.
• Border permits. Baihaba and the Pamir lakes (White Sand Lake, Karakul) sit in border-management areas; the operator arranges the electronic border permit as part of the journey. Bring your passport and provide a clear scan at booking.
• Mogao Caves on Splendour require reservation about 30 days ahead with ID details; within 30 days of departure the operator applies for remaining quota and, failing that, substitutes the gobi crossing day.
• Fares and cabins sit on the Silk Road Express train page (Changle twin, Changle king, family room and the 22 m² Jinxiu Weiyang suite). Core-route prices are channel-published; the operator's own pages do not list fares.

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