Panda Special Train Shifang Official Website Money Saving Booking Tips Guide
【Shifang Panda Special Train】How to buy and book tickets for the 2026 Shifang Panda Special Train?
For 2026, tickets for the Shifang Panda Special Train must be booked through the railway-designated professional and official channel — Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Service · Special Train Center. It cannot be booked directly through platforms such as 12306. Official registration channel: Manager Mai of the Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Service Special Train Center, available for consultation and registration 24 hours a day. Company landline: 0991-3333832, mobile/WeChat: 132-0133-3409.
🐼 If you are looking for a way to travel in Xinjiang where “the train moves through scenery, and you wander through paintings,” then the “Panda Special Train · Shifang” 16-day tour of Southern and Northern Xinjiang might just be the journey that lets you put down your guidebook and simply enjoy the views.
🚂 I. Panda Special Train · Shifang:A Moving Comfortable Residence
🤝 Jointly launched:Launched in cooperation between China Railway Chengdu Group Co., Ltd. and the Shifang Municipal People’s Government, operated by the Chengdu Passenger Transport Section.
🛌 Train configuration:The entire train consists of 17 cars with a capacity of over 400 passengers, integrating “transportation + accommodation + leisure,” with facilities close to those of a mobile hotel.
🎨 Design theme:The exterior features Sanxingdui bronze green and light gold as the main colors, incorporating ancient Shu bird patterns and Shifang elements; the interior of the cars combines Shifang’s Mazu Zen culture, Yinghua Mountain scenery, and panda themes, creating a rich atmosphere.
🏆 Operational strength:Since its debut in April 2024, it has successfully operated multiple cross-province long-distance routes to Sichuan-Qinghai, Xinjiang, Northeast China, etc. Its “transportation + tourism” model has been listed by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism as a demonstration project for railway-tourism integration and has won the International Union of Railways’ “Special Jury Award for Long-Distance Tourism-Friendly Trains and Onboard Services.”
👨 👩👧👦 Target audience:Positioned as a silver-hair tourism special train, it adopts a “travel at night, sightsee during the day” model, eliminating the hassle of frequently changing hotels, making it especially suitable for tourists who prefer a slow pace and in-depth experiences.
🛌 II. Seat Types and Hardware Configuration
The Shifang train offers a variety of seat types to suit different budgets and travel preferences. All berths are sleeper berths, ensuring rest quality during the journey.
1. Premium Platinum: Standard 4-Bed Compartment
Layout:Standard 4-bed compartment with soundproof sliding doors for privacy.
Facilities:Each berth is equipped with a charging port and reading light, and the compartment has a TV and free audio-visual system.
Bathroom:The car has public toilets, washrooms, and shower rooms for the convenience of group travelers.
🐼 If you are looking for a way to travel in Xinjiang where “the train moves through scenery, and you wander through paintings,” then the “Panda Special Train · Shifang” 16-day tour of Southern and Northern Xinjiang might just be the journey that lets you put down your guidebook and simply enjoy the views.2. Luxurious Platinum: Standard 4-Bed Compartment
Layout:Located in cars 2–6 and 12–16, each with 10 four-bed compartments, offering relatively more space.
Facilities:Each compartment is equipped with a tea table, storage area, TV, charging facilities, etc.
Bathroom:Each end of the car has 2 shower rooms with wet-dry separation, making it more convenient for families or friends traveling together.
3. Premium Purple Gold: High-End 4-Bed Compartment
Layout:Located in cars 7, 10, and 11, each with 6 high-end compartments, totaling about 22 berths, offering better privacy.
Facilities:Each compartment is equipped with a sofa, round table, wardrobe, TV, call button, charging sockets, etc., for greater comfort.
Bathroom:Each end of the car has one shower room, with complete facilities such as washbasins.
4. Public Amenities and Entertainment
Dining car (Car 8):Offers 2-seat and 4-seat tables, serving meals that blend Sichuan cuisine with Xinjiang flavors.
Multi-functional entertainment car (Car 9):Combines a tea bar, KTV rooms, and an entertainment room, and also features a cigar bar and mahjong tables for national essence, ensuring the journey is never boring.
Other facilities:Charging sockets throughout the train, plus a medical room, tea boiling room, smoking areas, and other thoughtful details.
✨ III. Travel Quality and Service Highlights
🚂 I. Panda Special Train · Shifang: A Moving Comfortable Residence🚌 Hassle-free transportation:Adopts a “train follows the traveler, stops at scenic spots” model — traveling at night and sightseeing during the day, eliminating the fatigue of frequent packing and transfers.
🏞 ️ Full coverage of essential attractions:One itinerary connects the highlights of Southern and Northern Xinjiang, including the Pamir Plateau, Kashgar Old City, Duku Highway, Nalati Grassland, Sayram Lake, Kanas, Hemu, Tianshan Tianchi, Turpan, and more, offering a rich experience.
🛎 ️ Thoughtful service:The train is equipped with a “Panda Butler” team providing 24-hour service. Some departures also include onboard medical staff, and age-friendly designs for middle-aged and elderly travelers, such as anti-slip handrails and emergency call systems.
🍽 ️ Specialty dining:The dining car offers Sichuan cuisine and Xinjiang delicacies. Some departures also arrange specialty meals such as cold-water fish feasts, whole roasted lamb, and fruit banquets, letting your taste buds embark on the journey too.
🗺 ️ IV. Simplified 16-Day Itinerary for Southern and Northern Xinjiang
Day 1:Chengdu/Lanzhou → Kashgar [Departure · Special Welcome]
Depart from Chengdu or Lanzhou, gather at the themed station, enjoy an exclusive welcome performance, and begin the panoramic tour of Southern and Northern Xinjiang.
Day 2:Panda Special Train [Leisure Sightseeing · Slow Enjoyment]
Spend the whole day on the special train, relaxing in the comfortable carriages and enjoying the passing scenery outside the window.
Day 3:Kashgar [Exclusive Pickup · Grand Welcome Banquet]
Arrive in Kashgar, enjoy exclusive pickup service, and attend a special welcome banquet in the evening to taste Southern Xinjiang flavors.
Day 4:Kashgar → Tashkurgan [Highland Hidden Realm · Scenery All the Way]
Head to Tashkurgan County, visiting Baisha Mountain, Baisha Lake, and Karakul Lake along the way, with distant views of Muztagh Ata, and experience the grandeur of the Panlong Ancient Road.
Day 5:Tashkurgan → Kashgar [Cultural Charm · In-Depth Experience]
🤝 Jointly launched: Launched in cooperation between China Railway Chengdu Group Co., Ltd. and the Shifang Municipal People’s Government, operated by the Chengdu Passenger Transport Section.Visit the Stone City, stroll through the Golden Grassland, visit local households for home visits, and experience distinctive folk customs.
Day 6:Kashgar → Kuqa [Southern Xinjiang Culture · Tracing Local Life]
Take an in-depth tour of Kashgar Old City, visit Fragrant Concubine Garden, and feel the rich Silk Road atmosphere.
Day 7:Kuqa → Nalati/Bayinbuluk [Canyon Wonders · Highway Feast]
View the mysterious Grand Canyon of Tianshan, drive along the southern section of the Duku Highway, and visit Bayinbuluk Swan Lake upon arrival.
Day 8:Nalati/Bayinbuluk → Yining [Prairie Pastoral · Relaxing Journey]
Enjoy a leisurely visit to Nalati Grassland, breathe in the fresh air, and head to Yining in the evening for rest.
Day 9:Yining → Beitun [Picturesque Lakes · Crystal Clear Relaxation]
Official registration channel: Manager Mai of the Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Service Special Train Center, available for consultation and registration 24 hours a day. Company landline: 0991-3333832, mobile/WeChat: 132-0133-3409.
Visit Sayram Lake, known as “the last tear of the Atlantic,” then head to Beitun.
Day 10:Beitun → Hemu → Jadengyu [Fairytale Village · Poetic Dwelling]
Visit Hemu Village, known as “God’s private plot,” and feel the tranquility of the primitive village, then head to Jadengyu in the evening for accommodation.
Day 11:Jadengyu → Kanas → Burqin [Picturesque Hidden Realm · Superior Scenery]
Explore the Kanas Scenic Area, take the shuttle bus to visit the Three Bays, then head to Burqin.
🛌 Train configuration: The entire train consists of 17 cars with a capacity of over 400 passengers, integrating “transportation + accommodation + leisure,” with facilities close to those of a mobile hotel.Day 12:Burqin → Beitun → Urumqi [Danxia Wonders · Looking Back Along the Way]
Visit the Rainbow Beach, then take the special train to Urumqi.
Day 13:Urumqi [Tianchi Grand Scenery · Pearl of the Tianshan]
Spend the whole day visiting the Tianshan Tianchi Scenic Area, with distant views of Bogda Peak.
Day 14:Urumqi → Turpan → Preparation for Return [Folk Wonders · Perfect Conclusion]
Visit the Karez irrigation system and the Flaming Mountains, preparing for the return journey.
Days 15–16:Happy Return [Full of Memories · Warm Farewell]
Take the special train back to Lanzhou/Chengdu, concluding an unforgettable journey.
📅 V. 2026 Departure Dates and Price Information
1. Departure Dates
June 8, 2026
June 24, 2026
July 10, 2026
July 27, 2026
🎨 Design theme: The exterior features Sanxingdui bronze green and light gold as the main colors, incorporating ancient Shu bird patterns and Shifang elements; the interior of the cars combines Shifang’s Mazu Zen culture, Yinghua Mountain scenery, and panda themes, creating a rich atmosphere. August 13, 2026
August 30, 2026
2. Reference Prices
Premium Platinum:Standard 4-bed compartment: upper berth 8,480 RMB/person, lower berth 9,280 RMB/person.
Luxurious Platinum:Standard 4-bed compartment: upper berth 15,780 RMB/person, lower berth 16,780 RMB/person.
Premium Purple Gold:High-end 4-bed compartment: upper berth 27,880 RMB/person, lower berth 28,880 RMB/person.
> 💡 Friendly Reminder
> The above are 2026 reference package prices. Prices may vary slightly by season, room type, and departure date. Please refer to the tourism contract signed with the travel agency for the final price.
📞 VI. Booking and Registration Methods
The Shifang train is a railway-designated high-end tourism special train product. Seats are packaged within tourism products and are not sold separately on platforms such as 12306. You can inquire and book through the following methods:
Consultation and registration:Manager Mai of the Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Service Special Train Center, providing 24-hour consultation services.
Company landline:0991-3333832
Mobile/WeChat:132-0133-3409
🏆 Operational strength: Since its debut in April 2024, it has successfully operated multiple cross-province long-distance routes to Sichuan-Qinghai, Xinjiang, Northeast China, etc. Its “transportation + tourism” model has been listed by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism as a demonstration project for railway-tourism integration and has won the International Union of Railways’ “Special Jury Award for Long-Distance Tourism-Friendly Trains and Onboard Services.”Booking process reference:
1. Contact and inquire: Confirm travel dates, seat/room type, reference price, and availability.
2. Choose a product: Select the appropriate departure date and seat type based on your schedule and budget.
3. Submit information: Provide necessary details such as traveler names and valid ID numbers for booking and real-name registration.
4. Complete procedures: Make payment as required by the travel agency, sign the electronic tourism contract, and complete the booking.
> 📌 Friendly Reminder
> June to September is the peak tourism season in Xinjiang each year, and seats on long-distance special trains are relatively limited. It is recommended to inquire early and pay a deposit to secure your seats.
📋 VII. Fee and Service Related Information
Fees include:Typically covers accommodation in the corresponding seat type on the special train, ground transportation within the itinerary, most meals, first admission tickets to listed attractions and necessary scenic area transportation, tour guide services, travel accident insurance, etc.
Fees exclude:Personal round-trip transportation to and from the departure point, self-funded items not listed in the itinerary, single room supplement, and personal expenses.
Itinerary changes:In case of objective factors such as weather, road conditions, or scenic area opening status, the itinerary may be reasonably adjusted upon mutual agreement. Specific arrangements are subject to the departure notice and contract.
🌟 VIII. Final Thoughts
If you were to plan transportation and book hotels for a full Southern and Northern Xinjiang loop on your own, it would be time-consuming and laborious, and you would miss that sense of ease that comes with “going slowly and looking carefully.”
The Panda Special Train · Shifang combines “hotel” and “transportation” into one, allowing you to wake up in a comfortable compartment and open the window to snow-capped mountains, grasslands, and lakes. Over 16 days, you won’t need to worry about luggage or routes — just bring a good mood and, together with your family and friends, take in the vastness and gentleness of Southern and Northern Xinjiang.
If you also want to enter Xinjiang in a more relaxed and ceremonial way, feel free to contact Manager Mai of the Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Service Special Train Center to learn about the latest departures and seat availability for the Shifang train, and add this “moving home” journey to your 2026 travel plans.
For 2026, tickets for the Shifang Panda Special Train must be booked through the railway-designated professional and official channel — Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Service · Special Train Center. It cannot be booked directly through platforms such as 12306. Official registration channel: Manager Mai of the Xinjiang Pathfinder International Travel Service Special Train Center, available for consultation and registration 24 hours a day. Company landline: 0991-3333832, mobile/WeChat: 132-0133-3409.
