Panda-themed tourist train departs from Chengdu for 16-day tour of Xinjiang

Captains of the "panda train" Splendid Tianfu pose for a group photo before departure at Anjing Railway Station in southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 19, 2026. The "panda train" Splendid Tianfu, a panda-themed tourist train, departed Tuesday from Chengdu carrying 92 passengers for a 16-day tour of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Sightseeing during the day and traveling over the night, passengers aboard the train will tour representative destinations across Xinjiang, which range from plateau lakes, grassland wetlands and ancient Silk Road settlements to Gobi oases.

Data from China Railway Chengdu Group Co., Ltd. shows that the "panda train" service has transported over 50,000 passengers since it rolled out in March 2021, emerging as a market benchmark for integrated railway and tourism development. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)