[Panda Train·Jinxiu Tianfu Express] 2027 Panoramic North and South Xinjiang Tour 13 Days

Departure from Chengdu

When the honored guests board, the dedicated butler team of the Panda Train·Jinxiu Tianfu Express has prepared a welcome ceremony, kicking off your Xinjiang journey in spectacular style.

Accommodation: Panda Train·Jinxiu Tianfu Express

Chengdu–Urumqi

The train travels along the Hexi Corridor, with the magnificent panorama of the thousand-year Silk Road passing by outside the window. After a journey of two days and one night, you arrive in Urumqi the next day, where a wonderful trip begins.

Accommodation: Hilton Urumqi or Wanda Vista Hotel (Deluxe Room)

Urumqi - Altay/Burqin (Choose one of Route A/B)

Urumqi - Altay - Route A: [Morning] Visit the [Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum] for a private cultural and museum class, immersing yourself in the treasures of the Silk Road, with a specially invited [renowned historian] providing an exclusive interpretation of the codes of civilization. [Noon] Proceed to the Jinxiu Tianfu Express [Xinjiang Welcome Banquet], opening a wonderful Xinjiang journey with distinctive Xinjiang song and dance. [Evening] Upon arrival in Altay, enjoy dinner, then check in to the hotel to rest after the meal. Urumqi - Burqin - Route B: [Morning] Visit the [Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum] for a private cultural and museum class, immersing yourself in the treasures of the Silk Road, with a specially invited [renowned historian] providing an exclusive interpretation of the codes of civilization. [Noon] Proceed to the Jinxiu Tianfu Express [Xinjiang Welcome Banquet], opening a wonderful Xinjiang journey with distinctive Xinjiang song and dance. [Afternoon] Board a coach and head north all the way to the fairy-tale border town of Burqin. Enjoy the spacious luxury land first-class cabin with reclining seats and take in the desert, gobi, and lake scenery of the Junggar Basin as you travel toward the colorful border town on the banks of the Irtysh River. [Evening] Upon arrival in Burqin, enjoy dinner, then check in to the hotel to rest after the meal.

Accommodation: Atour Hotel Altay / Burqin Zhihe or Burqin Bugu Li

Altay — Choose Between Route A or B

Altay Route A: Ahe Highway | Hemu [Morning] Depart from Altay along the [Ahe Highway] by car to Hemu Village (distance 240 km, drive approx. 5 hours). [Heartwarming snacks] are provided on board. [Afternoon] Exclusive custom experience — a leisurely [outdoor luxury dining banquet] amid nature. The Ahe Highway is a core section of the "Thousand-Mile Gallery" ecotourism route in the Altay region, with beautiful scenery along the way. After dinner, return to the hotel to rest. (Special note: If passage is not possible due to special weather conditions, regulatory controls, or other reasons, an alternative route to Hemu will be used.) Altay Route B: Hemu Village | Kanas [Morning] Drive from Burqin to [Hemu Village] (distance approx. 160 km, drive approx. 3.5 hours), enjoying the scenery of the Altai Mountains foothills along the way. Upon arrival, transfer to the scenic area shuttle bus to enter Hemu. After lunch, tour Hemu Village: stroll through the birch forest along the Hemu River, visit the Tuvan-style original wooden houses, gaze at the tranquil original village surrounded by snow-capped mountains, and immerse yourself in the wild mountain atmosphere of Hemu. After the Hemu tour, depart by car for Kanas, passing through the primeval forest of the Altai Mountains. Upon arrival at the Kanas scenic area, check in to the hotel and rest. (No Kanas attractions are scheduled today; conserve your energy for tomorrow's magnificent lake and mountain scenery.)

Accommodation: Hemu Holiday Hotel / Manyunjian or Jinlianhua

Altay - Choose Between Route A/B

Altay Route A: Hemu Village | Kanas Visit Hemu Village, praised as the most beautiful Tuva village, the back garden of the gods (tour about 2 hours). You can explore Hemu River Valley and admire the alpine meadows, the Hemu River wooden bridge, the Tuva village, and wooden dwellings. Customized leisure - tea break [Tea Break]. Then take a boat tour of Kanas Lake (about 2 hours by car, about 2 hours of touring). Kanas Scenic Area has Asia's only Swiss-style scenery, praised as humanity's last pure land. After the tour, drive to Burqin and check into the hotel for rest. Altay Route B: Kanas | Baihaba | Tiejia Highway In the morning, take a cruise on Kanas Lake, drifting on the emerald lake surface through the alpine lake surrounded by taiga forest, immersing yourself in the lake and mountain scenery and exploring the mysterious legends of Kanas Lake. Afterward, drive along the Tiejia Highway to Burqin, passing through Baihaba, the No. 1 Village in the Northwest, to visit the original border Tuva village, where wooden houses, streams, and snow-capped mountains appear in one frame, experiencing the tranquil, oil-painting-like original homeland on the national border. Arrive in Burqin in the evening, then check into the hotel for rest.

Accommodation: Burqin Zhihe or Burqin Bu Guli

Burqin - Urumqi

Depart in the morning for Fuhai, where you will encounter the vast lake on the Gobi, admire the spectacular views of water birds and wetlands, and experience the blue secret realm amid the desert. [Noon] Taste the specialty [Intangible Cultural Heritage Cold Water Fish Banquet], a feast of precious lake delicacies, and experience the authentic flavors of Fuhai. [Afternoon] Drive to the [Akhal-Teke Horse Base] in Urumqi to view the magnificent Akhal-Teke horses up close, watch professional equestrian stunt performances, and experience the charm of thousand-year horse culture. After dinner, transfer to the railway station at the designated time, board the Tianfu Express train, and travel south all the way to Kashgar.

Accommodation: Panda Train·Jinxiu Tianfu Express

Urumqi - Kuqa - Kashgar

Route A: Qiuci Buddhist Echoes · Heritage of Kuqa [Morning] Depart Urumqi southbound for Kashgar, with a stop at Kuqa, the ancient Silk Road kingdom of Qiuci. In the early morning, visit the [Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves] to explore China's earliest large-scale cave temple complex; the cliffside caves preserve millennia-old Qiuci murals, where you can hear stories of Silk Road civilization and admire these treasured cave art works that embody the blending of Eastern and Western civilizations. [Afternoon] After noon, return to Kuqa's city area to wander the old town, visit the distinctive Qiuci-style streets and lanes, experience the everyday life of the old town, and take in the folk customs and architectural features of the ancient Qiuci kingdom. [Evening] In the evening, return to the Jinxiu Tianfu Express and continue southbound to Kashgar, a major city in southern Xinjiang. Route B: Red Canyon Splendor · Leisurely Qiuci [Morning] From Urumqi, head south along the middle route of the Silk Road to Kuqa, ancient Qiuci. In the early morning, visit the [Tianshan Grand Canyon] and step into the red earth fissures carved by millions of years of wind, rain, and floods; ochre-red cliffs tower majestically, and shifting light and shadow reveal the earth's magnificent wonders—discover the geological secret realm of the southern Duku Highway. After noon, return to Kuqa's city area to wander, stroll through the old town's streets and lanes, encounter the everyday life of Kuqa, and experience the unique ethnic customs and architectural charm of the ancient Qiuci kingdom. After the tour, return to the Jinxiu Tianfu Express and continue southbound to Kashgar, the pearl of the Silk Road.

Accommodation: Panda Train·Jinxiu Tianfu Express

Kashgar - Tashkurgan

[Morning] Arrive in Kashgar at around morning, then travel along the China-Pakistan Friendship Highway to the Roof of the World—the [Pamir Plateau] (about 3 hours' drive). Arrive at [Baisha Lake] (sightseeing time about 40 minutes), where the rolling silvery-white sand mountains and the clear, turquoise lake waters have watched over each other for millennia, forming a sharp and fantastical dividing line—a must-see place when visiting Kashgar. [Afternoon] In the afternoon, head to the legendary border town [Tashkurgan] perched on the Pamir Plateau. Afterwards, join a [Tajik family visit], taste pastries prepared by the Tajik people themselves, sing and dance with the Tajik people, and learn about the Tajik ethnic culture. [Evening] Enjoy authentic Tashkurgan yak hot pot for dinner, then check in at a hotel in Tashkurgan to rest.

Accommodation: Tashkurgan Panorama Starry Sky Hotel, Yunjing Hotel, Pamir Hotel, or equivalent

Tashkurgan - Kashgar

After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, head to 【Karakul Lake】(approximately 2 hours by car, with about 1 hour of sightseeing time). It is known as the “color-changing lake” of the Pamir Plateau and the “mirror of the father of icebergs,” a brilliant pearl set beneath Muztagh Ata. 【Afternoon】In the afternoon, participate in an 【intangible cultural heritage handicraft experience】, personally try an intangible cultural heritage handicraft, and experience the simple traditional ethnic cultural life. Feel the charm of rustic ethnic life through the inheritance of skills, and gain a unique cultural memory. 【Evening】Upon arrival in Kashgar, enjoy a whole roast lamb banquet, then check in to the hotel to rest.

Accommodation: Global Harbor International Hotel South Xinjiang, Radisson Hotel, or equivalent

Kashgar - Turpan

After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, proceed to [Kashgar Old City] (sightseeing time approximately 1.5 hours). Having weathered over 2,000 years of wind, frost, snow, and rain, Kashgar Old City is Xinjiang's most representative historical and cultural landscape. Afterwards, you may stroll through the crisscrossing streets and alleys of the old city and experience the most authentic Western Regions charm. Visit the nationally renowned mosque—[Id Kah Mosque] (sightseeing time approximately 40 minutes). This mosque is an outstanding showcase of Islamic religious culture and a perfect fusion of unique Islamic architectural style with traditional Chinese building techniques. [Evening] After dinner, board the Jinxiu Tianfu Express and head to Turpan.

Accommodation: Panda Train·Jinxiu Tianfu Express

Turpan

[Afternoon] Arrive in Turpan in the afternoon and check in at the hotel. After dinner, visit the [Jiaohe Ancient City], step onto this earthen city that has stood for a thousand years, and explore the ruins of a Silk Road city-state. In the evening, attend an exclusive Jiaohe concert and listen to Silk Road melodies amid the vast night of the ancient city. Afterward, return to the hotel to rest.

Accommodation: Hengze Hotel or equivalent

Return Journey・Finale

Gather at the designated time and be transferred to the railway station to board the Jinxiu Tianfu Express for the return journey. Spend the full day experiencing the moving Oriental aesthetics train, enjoying views of the vast northwestern Gobi Desert and mountain scenery along the way. Distinguished guests may also take part in special onboard activities organized by the Panda Butler, with laughter and joy all along the way.

Accommodation: Panda Train·Jinxiu Tianfu Express

Arrival in Chengdu

Sightseeing aboard the Jinxiu Tianfu Express, arrive at the destination, and conclude a pleasant journey through Xinjiang. The Jinxiu Tianfu Express looks forward to seeing you again next time.