Passengers pose for photos inside a steampunk garden-themed carriage of the Tianjin Fantasy Express on July 29. SUN FANYUE/XINHUA
BEIJING — Passengers boarding a themed sightseeing train in the eastern Chinese city of Fuzhou, Fujian province, last week stepped into a carriage that felt more like a classical Chinese garden.
Decorated with local bamboo and tea elements and Song Dynasty (960-1279)-inspired interiors, the train running through Wuyishan National Park turns the journey itself into a unique cultural experience.
This train is part of a broader boom in an emerging train-plus tourism model, in which railway operators combine transportation with sightseeing, cultural experiences and entertainment to meet a growing appetite for immersive, hassle-free vacations.
In Shangrao, East China's Jiangxi province, a tourist train brings local culture onboard through live performances and interactive theatrical experiences. "Since entering service in late April, the train has maintained an occupancy rate of more than 90 percent," said Qin Zhonghao, head of the operator's sightseeing train business.
