China Railway Shanghai Group Launches Tourist Trains to Boost Integrated Cultural Tourism in Yangtze River Delta
As railway tracks stretch toward poetic and distant destinations, the “railway + cultural tourism” model is bringing more diverse and in-depth travel experiences to citizens. Recently, China Railway Shanghai Group (CR Shanghai Group) operated two tourist trains from Shanghai to Taizhou and Jiuhua Mountain respectively, offering distinctive themed itineraries to start immersive Jiangnan cultural journeys.
People’s Network Jiangsu Channel reported that the Yangtze River Delta region boasts abundant tourism resources and a dense high-speed railway network, and CR Shanghai Group has been strengthening cooperation with local governments to innovate tourism product supply, empowering the integrated development of cultural tourism in the region.
At 7:50 a.m., the Taizhou Food Special Train C3852 departed on time from Shanghai Railway Station, carrying more than 200 Shanghai tourists to start a two-day and one-night in-depth experience of “water town slow life”. During the trip, tourists will wander around Qintong Old Street, known as the “Pearl of Water Towns” and “Zhouzhuang in Central Jiangsu”, admiring small bridges over flowing water, quiet dwellings in deep alleys, flagstone-paved streets and old wells in courtyards. They will also take a night tour of Fengcheng River, enjoy Taizhou folk song performances, and taste Taizhou morning tea to experience the slow life and happiness wrapped in the fragrance of tea.
At 10:27 a.m., Train G8388 left Shanghai Railway Station, carrying nearly 100 Shanghai tourists to Jiuhua Mountain Station for a three-day healthy and recuperative trip to the beautiful Jiuhua Mountain. In the three-day and two-night itinerary, tourists will visit Lingyang Ancient Town, a famous historical and cultural town with a history of thousands of years, to feel the strong homesickness in the visible ancient charm; visit the World Granary Exhibition Hall to explore the economic and social changes witnessed by grain coupons; tour classic scenic spots such as Jiuhua Mountain and Xinghua Village to appreciate the grandeur and exquisiteness of ancient buildings; and take a boat trip on Taiping Lake to experience the comfort of “boats sailing on blue waves and people traveling in paintings”.
The tourist trains are painted with the striking words “Happy Tour in Yangtze River Delta · Beautiful Anhui” on their bodies. Posters, table stickers, headrest covers, seat covers, luggage racks, canopies and other positions in the carriages are all integrated with cultural and tourism elements of Hefei, Anqing, Chizhou and Huangshan, achieving full-scene immersive decoration. Lou Li, a Shanghai tourist, sighed sincerely: “The strong Anhui cultural atmosphere on the train makes us more eager for the destination. I hope there will be more new ways to travel by high-speed rail in the future.”
This year, China State Railway Group plans to operate more than 2,500 tourist trains and create 50 high-quality tourist routes. CR Shanghai Group will also deepen cooperation with local governments and cultural and tourism departments, focusing on creating regular high-quality routes of “one route and one group a week” around silver-haired tourism, study tourism and parent-child tourism. It will empower cultural and tourism consumption with high-speed rail traffic and jointly build and share the integrated cultural tourism market in the Yangtze River Delta.
CR Shanghai Group has been enriching its tourist train product range, including upgrading ordinary trains to be suitable for the elderly and launching themed trains, to meet diverse travel needs. The launch of the two tourist trains not only showcases the unique cultural charm of the Yangtze River Delta, but also injects strong momentum into the integrated development of regional cultural tourism.
