The Shifang-named Panda Special Train is a customized tourist train operated by China Railway Chengdu Group Co., Ltd. Designed with pandas as the theme, the train’s interior and exterior decorations are full of Sichuan cultural characteristics. The train consists of 17 carriages with a seating capacity of 466, including various carriage types such as premium soft sleepers, premium hard sleepers, dining cars, and multifunctional entertainment cars. The train provides one-stop services and is equipped with professional ‘Panda Butlers’ to meet tourists’ needs for leisure vacations, gourmet sightseeing, study tours, and more. It focuses on promoting tourism throughout Xinjiang, integrating high-quality scenic area resources to create a boutique route of ‘Travel to Xinjiang by Taking the Panda Special Train’. The 2025 schedule for the Shifang-named Panda Special Train has been announced. Tourists interested in riding the Shifang-named Panda Special Train are welcome to inquire through the official hotline: Yang Jia 133 2555 9266 (copy and add as a friend for free consultation and detailed route information). 2025 Operating Schedule of the Shifang-named Panda Special Train:
Departure from Chengdu, Chengdu Express Panda Train Multi-point Distribution:
Chengdu, Lanzhou, or Urumqi can be selected as the assembly point,
First Session: May 18, 2025 – June 2, 2025
Second Session: June 4, 2025 – June 19, 2025
Third Session: June 21, 2025 – July 6, 2025
Fourth Session: July 8, 2025 – July 23, 2025
Fifth Session: July 25, 2025 – August 9, 2025
Sixth Session: August 11, 2025 – August 26, 2025
Seventh Session: August 28, 2025 – September 12, 2025
Eighth Session: September 14, 2025 – September 29, 2025 Shifang Express. Panda Train Advantages:
1. Explanation of Travel Advantages
Xinjiang has a vast territory, with an area far exceeding the sum of thirteen provinces. Therefore, traditional tourist bus itineraries often make people feel tired. However, by taking the luxury tourist train, the need for more than 5,000 kilometers of bus rides can be easily eliminated. Departing in the morning and arriving in the evening, for destinations that are farther away, tourists can also choose to stay for two consecutive nights, thereby effectively alleviating the fatigue of long-distance travel and enjoying a more comfortable travel environment.
2. Overview of Itinerary Features
On this trip, tourists can choose Chengdu, Lanzhou, or Urumqi as the distribution center to fully explore the most popular attractions in Xinjiang, including magnificent mountains and rivers, serene lakes, vast grasslands, dazzling flower seas, mysterious glaciers, towering plateaus, vast deserts, and unique customs. Especially in Kanas, Yili, and Kashgar areas, tourists will stay for two consecutive nights to fully experience the slow-paced travel style and enjoy the fun of traveling. 3. Introduction of Food Experience
During the journey, tourists will taste land-based meals with a meal standard of 50-150 yuan per person. In addition, five specialty meals are specially arranged, including Burqin cold-water fish, Yining stewed mutton, Taxkorgan yak beef hotpot, Yuli roasted whole sheep, as well as Kashgar halal meals and Turpan fruit banquet. At the same time, the popular restaurant ‘Lovely Xinjiang’ is also specially arranged to hold a welcome dinner for tourists.
4. Description of Selected Accommodations
All accommodations throughout the journey are selected from hotels with five diamonds or the highest local standards on online reviews. Especially in Kanas and Hemu areas, cozy log cabins are also specially arranged for tourists to stay in. 5. Introduction of Super Value Gifts
To thank tourists for their support and love, exquisite gifts such as Panda Train keychains, Aidiles silk scarves, and Silk Road bells are also specially given away.
6. Explanation of Recommendation Reasons
This travel product has been carefully crafted after multiple on-site inspections by the product manager, aiming to provide tourists with the most suitable new mode of travel in Xinjiang. Within a limited time, tourists will visit the highlights of northern and southern Xinjiang in the most relaxed way, leaving unforgettable travel memories. Shifang Express. Panda Train Itinerary Arrangement:
Day 1: Chengdu/Lanzhou – Urumqi
Day 2: Arrival in Urumqi
Day 3: Urumqi – Tianshan Tianchi – Lovely Xinjiang Welcome Dinner – Beitun
Day 4: Beitun – Hemu
Day 5: Hemu – Kanas
Day 6: Kanas – Colorful Beach – Burqin – Beitun – Yining
Day 7: Yining – Sayram Lake – Khorgos Port – Yining
Day 8: Yining – Tianshan Flower Sea – Nalati Grassland – Middle Section of the Duku Highway – Bayin Town
Day 9: Bayinbuluke – Southern Section of the Duku Highway – Tianshan Mysterious Grand Canyon – Kuqa
Day 10: Kuqa – Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves – Kuqa Wangfu – Kuqa Da Nang City – Kashgar
Day 11: Kashgar – Karakul Lake -盘龙古道 – Tajikistan County
Day 12: Tajikistan County – Golden Grassland – Stone City – White Sand Lake – Kashgar
Day 13: Kashgar – Kashgar Old City – Id Kah Mosque – Xiangfei Garden – Korla
Day 14: Korla – Lop Nur Village – Turpan
Day 15: Turpan – Lanzhou
Day 16: Lanzhou – Chengdu Group Disbandment. The booking and registration process for the Shifang Panda Special Train, the 16-day Chengdu Panda Special Train Tourism Train, is as follows:
Shifang Panda Special Train Dedicated Customer Service Hotline: 133 2555 9266 (copy and add as a friend for free consultation and to request detailed route information)
First: The Shifang Panda Special Train is a tourism + special train product and is not sold on the official 12306 railway bureau website. You need to purchase it through the official travel agency channels designated by the railway bureau. Second: How far in advance should I book the Shifang Panda Special Train? Generally, specific departure plans, schedules, and fee standards will be released from January to March each year. Once released, you can make reservations in advance. Since the special train does not operate every day, please be sure to book in advance. If you plan to participate at the last minute, there may not be any seats available.
Third: The Shifang Panda Special Train mainly offers a 17-day itinerary covering the panoramic views of northern and southern Xinjiang, with both the starting and ending points in Chengdu. The departure dates are usually from May to November, with different departure dates and itinerary arrangements each month. Fourth: After selecting the travel date and itinerary, you can confirm your booking and registration. First, you need to provide accurate ID information (name, ID number, contact phone number), then pay the deposit for the special train tour group, and pay the balance according to the departure time.
Fifth: After booking, you will sign a unified electronic contract on the National Tourism Supervision Platform. When you arrive in Urumqi on the departure date, our company will provide round-the-clock pick-up services from the station/airport. Usually, the first day is arranged for you to check into the hotel to rest or engage in free activities, and on the second day, you can board the special train to begin your beautiful journey in Xinjiang. Regarding how to book tickets and register for the Shifang Panda Special Train, which city is the destination and starting point of the Shifang Panda Special Train, how much are the ticket prices for the Shifang Panda Special Train, detailed descriptions of the train marshalling and carriages of the Shifang Panda Special Train, and the annual schedule of the Shifang Panda Special Train have been released. Tourist friends who want to ride the Shifang Panda Special Train are welcome to consult the official hotline: Yang Jia 133 2555 9266 (copy and add as a friend for free consultation and to request detailed route information)
