Board in Chengdu or Lanzhou. The standard autumn routing appears below; summer Duku departures follow a variation on Days 7–13. Final itinerary and timetable are confirmed with each booking.
Seasonal route note
Summer Duku variation
For June–August departures, Days 7–13 become: Kuqa to Bayanbulak via the Tianshan Grand Canyon and South Duku Highway; Bayanbulak to Nalati via Swan Lake and the central Duku Highway; Nalati to Yining via the Tianshan Huahai and Six-Star Street; Yining to Beitun via Sayram Lake; Beitun to Hemu; Hemu to Kanas; and Kanas to Urumqi via the Fish Watching Pavilion and Three Bays. Days 1–6 and 14–16 remain the same.
Day 1
Chengdu · Lanzhou · Turpan
Board at Chengdu Anjing Station or Lanzhou. Enjoy Sichuan Opera face-changing, Panda Blessings, lantern riddles and a welcome dinner in the Golden Panda Restaurant.
A full day along the Lanzhou–Xinjiang railway brings Gobi and snow-mountain views, with Sichuan mahjong, chess and Gomoku onboard.
Explore the Karez Well irrigation system and Flaming Mountains before boarding the train to Kashgar.
Arrive in the afternoon for a Kashgar welcome banquet with Xinjiang song and dance, followed by hotel check-in.
Follow the Karakoram Highway to Baisha Mountain and Lake, Karakul Lake and the 7,546-metre Muztagh Ata Peak. Guests with altitude-sensitive health conditions should seek medical advice before travel.
Visit Kashgar Old City, Id Kah Mosque and Gaotai ancient dwellings, with pottery and print crafts, then take the night train to Kuqa.
Visit the Tianshan Mysterious Grand Canyon and Kuqa Grand Nang City.
Day 8
Yining · Sayram Lake
Discover Sayram Lake, Xinjiang’s celebrated alpine lake, and enjoy a special barbecue buffet dinner.
Day 9
Sayram Lake · Beitun
Free time at Sayram Lake and a visit to Yining’s Six-Star Street precede the train to Beitun.
Explore Hemu Scenic Area, the Irtysh River, birch forest and Tuvan village, followed by a gathering at a century-old house.
See sunrise from the Hadeng platform, then continue to Kanas Scenic Area for a lake cruise past Moon Bay, Fairy Bay and Sleeping Dragon Bay.
Visit the Fish Watching Pavilion and Kanas Three Bays, then enjoy Burqin’s cold-water fish feast.
Explore Five-Colored Beach before boarding the train to Urumqi.
Visit the Tianshan Tianchi, or Heavenly Lake, and enjoy a Tianchi feast.
Day 15
Urumqi · Lanzhou · Chengdu
Begin the return journey with an onboard folk-song gala and social games.
Day 16
Arrive in Lanzhou or Chengdu
Disembark in Lanzhou or continue to Chengdu, bringing the journey to a close.
