Reference fares are not live availability. Flights are excluded; child fares, exclusive occupancy and any extra hotel night are quoted separately.
| Day | Daily outline | Arrangements |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A warm welcome. A new horizon. Board the blue-and-gold Chengdu train at Anjing Station in Chengdu, or join in Lanzhou as arranged for your departure. Settle into your private cabin and let the journey find its own unhurried pace. | Stay: private cabin aboard Chengdu |
| 2 | Make time for life on the rails Spend a full day enjoying the train itself as the landscapes of north-western China unfold along the Lanzhou–Xinjiang railway. Read beside the window, linger over tea or share a conversation. | Stay: private cabin aboard Chengdu |
| 3 | The water and fire of Turpan Arrive in Turpan in the morning and discover the karez irrigation system. Its underground channels reveal how water sustains an oasis in an arid landscape. | Stay: private cabin aboard Chengdu |
| 4 | A welcoming evening in Kashgar Enjoy the morning on board before arriving in Kashgar around the afternoon. A station transfer takes you to your hotel, easing the transition from life on the rails to southern Xinjiang. | Stay: hotel in Kashgar |
| 5 | Where sand, water and mountains meet After breakfast, follow the China–Pakistan Friendship Highway towards the Pamirs to visit Baisha Lake and its pale sand hills. Water, sand and changing light create a striking highland landscape. | Stay: hotel in Kashgar |
| 6 | Read the city through its streets Explore Kashgar Old City, where lanes, doorways and craft workshops are woven into daily life. Visit Id Kah Mosque and experience the changing rhythm of streets, architecture and courtyards. | Stay: private cabin aboard Chengdu |
| 7 | From red canyon walls to open grassland Arrive in Kuqa and walk between the red walls of the Tianshan Grand Canyon. Continue by dedicated vehicle along the southern Duku Highway, crossing mountain landscapes on the way to Bayanbulak. | Stay: hotel in Bayanbulak |
| 8 | An unhurried day in the mountain meadows Continue from Bayanbulak to Nalati along the central Duku Highway after breakfast. The changing mountain scenery opens onto slopes, woodland and broad meadows. | Stay: hotel in Nalati |
| 9 | From seasonal flowers to Liuxing Street Travel from Nalati to the Tianshan Flower Sea, with views determined by the season. Flowering varies with the month and weather, making each departure a different experience. | Stay: hotel in Yining |
| 10 | A chapter written in lake blue Travel from Yining to Sayram Lake, where water, mountains and grassland form a broad open landscape. Different viewpoints and changing light reveal subtle variations in the blue. | Stay: private cabin aboard Chengdu |
| 11 | Stay among wooden homes and river valleys Arrive in Beitun in the morning and transfer to Hemu, with breaks and meals along the way. Wooden homes, river valleys and birch woodland mark a slower rhythm on entering the village. | Stay: accommodation in the Hemu scenic area |
| 12 | Into the lake country of the Altai If you wish, rise early for a self-guided look at Hemu in the morning. After breakfast, continue to Kanas, leaving the village behind for a landscape of water and forest. | Stay: accommodation in the Kanas scenic area |
| 13 | A final wide view of Kanas Visit Guanyu Pavilion after breakfast for a higher view across Kanas Lake and the surrounding mountains. Additional time at the three bays depends on the day’s schedule. | Stay: private cabin aboard Chengdu |
| 14 | Mountain reflections on Heavenly Lake After arriving in Urumqi, transfer to Heavenly Lake in the Tianshan. Scenic-area transport and a guided visit introduce the lake and woodland, with views towards Bogda Peak when conditions allow. | Stay: hotel in Urumqi |
| 15 | The journey home is part of the experience After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the station and board Chengdu once more. Familiar cabins, dining and leisure spaces make the return journey another part of the experience. | Stay: private cabin aboard Chengdu |
| 16 | Arrive with sixteen days of memories The train calls at Lanzhou and continues to Chengdu according to the operating plan. Finish the rail journey at your booked arrival station, with time on board for farewells and photographs. | Journey ends · onward services as confirmed |
Use this summary for family discussion and enquiries. Final train services, attraction access, meals and stays follow the confirmed itinerary. Complimentary Chinese and English guiding is provided without advance booking.