Sold-out luxury tour package features 8,000 km scenic voyage in Xinjiang

　　People dance on a panda-themed train during a trial run in Sichuan province on Wednesday. [Photo provided to China Daily]

　　A new generation panda-themed tourist train is scheduled to begin its inaugural 16-day, 15-night journey from Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, to the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region on May 18, according to its operators.

　　Named after its home city, the “Chengdu“ is described as a high-end boutique tourist train developed jointly by China Railway Chengdu Group and Chengdu Culture and Tourism Development Group.

　　During the train's trial run on Wednesday, Tang Liping, deputy general manager of Chengdu China Youth Travel Service, announced that the initial route will cover 8,000 kilometers across Xinjiang.

　　Passengers can anticipate breathtaking scenery, including snow-capped mountains, forests, deserts, and the Gobi region. The itinerary also features visits to notable attractions such as the ancient city of Kashgar, Tianshan Tianchi (Heavenly Lake), Hemu village in Altay, Kanas Lake, and Turpan, she said.

　　“Global presales for the inaugural tour package began in December, and demand has been so strong that all tickets from May to September have been sold out,“ Tang noted. “Approximately 70 percent of the customers are inbound visitors from countries and regions including Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.“

　　The tour package starts at 55,900 yuan ($7,700) per person. This price includes train tickets and a comprehensive array of services such as accommodation, dining, shuttle transfers and admission to scenic spots, she added.