China Luxury Panda Train 2026: New Orient Express & Chengdu Panda Tourist Trains
Explore China in 2026 on luxury tourist trains! The Chengdu Panda Train and New Orient Express offer fully upgraded rooms, scenic routes across Xinjiang and the Silk Road, cultural experiences, and first-class comfort. Book your unforgettable journey now.
In 2026, China’s luxury railway tourism reaches new heights with the Chengdu Panda Tourist Train and the New Orient Express. These boutique trains feature fully upgraded guest rooms, living and dining cars, entertainment facilities, and smart leisure systems. Travelers can enjoy stunning landscapes from snow-capped mountains to vast grasslands along routes through Xinjiang, the Silk Road, and iconic cultural sites. Designed like “star hotels on rails,” these trains provide unparalleled comfort and immersive experiences for both domestic and international tourists. Whether for long-distance journeys or short scenic trips, the 2026 luxury trains promise an unforgettable adventure on China’s most beautiful routes.
Take the New Oriental Tourist Train---Wandering on the Chinese Civilization Scenic Line
Set off towards the "Oriental Cultural Scenic Line"!
In 2024, my country's first tourist train exclusive base station, Anjing Station, was opened in Chengdu. The National Railway Group held a site meeting on the integration and development of railways and tourism here. Tourist trains such as "Silk Road Dream", "Panda Special Train·An Yi", "Panda Special Train·Shifang", "Yichun", and "Lindu" were collectively unveiled.
In recent years, the railway tourism market has continued to heat up, and boutique tourist trains have emerged as the times require. It is a new measure for the integrated development of "railway + tourism" in China's cultural and tourism market, and the demand for high-quality tourism has been released.
Starting in 2024, tourist trains such as "Silk Road Dream", "Panda Special Train·Shifang", "Yichun", and "Starlight·Lancang-Mekong" have been launched one after another. Many tourists have taken the trains, crossed the desert, traveled along the Silk Road, passed the "Qin Yue Han Pass", and wandered on the Chinese civilization scenic line.
These tourist trains have unique body appearances, some with Dunhuang mural elements as textures, and some with cute pandas as the theme; there are comfortable reception rooms, large landscape windows, ultra-quiet design rooms, smart home systems, cultural and creative food from all over the country... Tourist trains are like "star hotels" on rails, meeting the needs of Chinese and foreign tourists for high-quality travel.
The newly built "Panda Special Train·Chengdu" tourist train officially debuted in Chengdu. This is the third generation of "Panda Special Train" theme series boutique tourist trains after the "Panda Special Train·An Yi" and "Panda Special Train·Shifang" tourist trains of China Railway Chengdu Bureau Group Co., Ltd. There are 5 types of models: living room car, restaurant car, kitchen car, entertainment car, and guest room car.
The train is equipped with music bars, cultural exhibitions, coffee and leisure, movie entertainment, train theaters, etc., providing a fully open multi-functional leisure space to meet the needs of different tourists. "The 'Panda Train Chengdu' tourist train mainly serves people traveling on long-distance tourist trains across bureaus, while also accommodating short-distance travel." The guest room car, living room car, and restaurant car unveiled this time total 4 vehicles of 3 types. The remaining 14 cars are undergoing refurbishment and will be put into service in 2025.
The New Oriental train cost 48 million yuan to upgrade! It currently runs two main lines:
1. Yinchuan-Urumqi: passing through Zhongwei, Zhangye, Jiayuguan, Dunhuang, Turpan, Yining, Burqin, Fuyun and other places.
2. There are also routes within Xinjiang in northern and southern Xinjiang.
The longest journey is 16 days, with a starting price of more than 20,000 yuan per person.
You can wake up from a soft and comfortable big bed every day, slowly look at the ever-changing scenery outside the window, drink a cup of hot tea, have breakfast, and start a beautiful day. The train is equipped with a large viewing glass window with a wide field of vision, and the beautiful scenery along the way is unobstructed, including snow-capped mountains, grasslands, and farmland...
The predecessor of the "New Orient Express" - the "Orient Express" did not receive tourists at first, it only received "foreign guests".
The train travels along the ancient Silk Road, and Bill Gates once visited the Jiayuguan-Dunhuang section of China on this train.
Later, the train was gradually opened to the outside world, but most of the tourists were foreigners.
Many people take this train to enjoy the beautiful mountains and rivers of China.
Although the train is not running nationwide now, whether it is the Yinchuan-Urumqi section or the Xinjiang section, the scenery along the way is the essence of the essence.
More information about the New Oriental Express and Panda Train travel routes, please read the following article：
- 16 Days Xinjiang Luxury Panda Train Tour June to Mid Aug. 2026
- 16 Days Xinjiang Luxury Panda Train Tour Late Aug. to Sept. 2026
- 15 Days Xinjiang Luxury New Orient Express Tour June & July 2026
- 15 Days Xinjiang Luxury New Orient Express Tour Aug. & Sept. 2026
As a tourist train operation center, here is a comparison for everyone (New Orient Express uses the Gold Diamond and Silver Diamond formations for comparison).
The following are the differences:
Different railway bureaus: New Orient Express is a luxury tourist train remodeled by China Railway Urumqi Bureau in 2020
Panda Train is the latest luxury tourist train built by China Railway Chengdu Bureau in 2024
Different capacity:
New Orient Express has a capacity of 112 people, and Chengdu has a capacity of 108 people
Different distribution centers:
New Orient Express starts and ends in Urumqi, while Chengdu can start and end in Chengdu, Lanzhou, and Urumqi
Different room types:
New Orient Express Gold Diamond has a 1.5-meter-wide bed, while Chengdu has two 0.7-meter double beds, which can be folded into sofas during the day
Different prices:
New Orient Express and Chengdu have slightly different prices in the same month
For more comparison, please read the following article
New Oriental Train Explores Xinjiang: Luxurious Journey and Stunning Scenery
For more information, please contact us
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FAQs
Q1: What is the China Luxury Panda Train?
A1: The China Luxury Panda Train is a high-end tourist train launched by China Railway Chengdu Bureau. Designed as a “star hotel on rails,” it features guest room cars, dining and entertainment cars, panoramic windows, and modern leisure facilities. In 2026, it operates luxury routes across Xinjiang and the Silk Road, offering immersive cultural and scenic experiences.
Q2: What routes does the New Orient Express train operate in 2026?
A2: In 2026, the New Orient Express mainly operates the Yinchuan–Urumqi route, passing through Zhongwei, Zhangye, Jiayuguan, Dunhuang, Turpan, Yining, Burqin, and Fuyun. It also offers multiple travel routes within northern and southern Xinjiang, covering some of the most scenic sections of the ancient Silk Road.
Q3: How long is the luxury train journey and how much does it cost?
A3: The longest journey on the New Orient Express or Panda Train lasts up to 16 days. In 2026, the starting price is generally from over 20,000 RMB per person, depending on the travel season, room type, and specific itinerary.
Q4: What facilities are available on the Panda Train and New Orient Express?
A4: Both luxury trains are equipped with guest room cars, living room cars, restaurant cars, entertainment spaces, music bars, coffee lounges, cultural exhibitions, movie theaters, and large panoramic viewing windows. These facilities are designed to provide a comfortable, quiet, and immersive travel experience throughout the journey.
Q5: What is the difference between the Panda Train and the New Orient Express?
A5: The New Orient Express was remodeled by China Railway Urumqi Bureau and has a capacity of 112 passengers, with Gold Diamond rooms featuring 1.5-meter-wide beds. The Panda Train, built by China Railway Chengdu Bureau, accommodates 108 passengers and offers flexible twin beds that can be folded into sofas during the day. They also differ in departure cities, routes, and pricing by season.
Q6: Who are these luxury tourist trains suitable for?
A6: The China Luxury Panda Train and New Orient Express are ideal for travelers seeking a high-end, slow-paced journey through Xinjiang and the Silk Road. They are suitable for both international and domestic tourists who value comfort, cultural depth, scenic landscapes, and a unique rail-based luxury travel experience.
