A Compartment on the Tourism Train |
As the warm spring is arriving, flowers are coming out with a rush. On March 5th, 2016, train Y121, the first tourist train this year, set off from Beijing, providing passengers with a visual feast of flowers. The passengers will spend 10 days on the train, passing various scenic spots, such as the magnificent Huangguoshu Waterfall, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and the peaceful "seas" of rape flowers in Tongnan, Chongqing.
A tourist surnamed Wang was greatly excited about this journey. "It's really a wonderful trip! I can have leisure time on the train and enjoy the scenery out of the window. Such an unforgettable experience for me", he said with a smile.
Miss Zhao, a representative of Beijing Railway Corporation, remarked that tourist trains are more passenger-friendly compared with regular ones. Usually, there are only four soft sleepers in a compartment, more spacious and comfortable. Besides, the trains would make a stop at almost every scenic spot for visitors' convenience. "This year, we'll arrange more than one hundred tourist trains, mainly departing for South China, Northeast China, Xinjiang and Vietnam. For example, we have planned a tourist train to the Yellow Mountain in April and another one to Xiangyang in Hubei Province in May for passengers to admire the bamboo seas", she said.
The Railway Department also announced the operation of other tourist trains. Chengdu Railway Corporation is going to run 19 Y-lettered tourist trains in March and April. Most of them will head for Beijing, Guangzhou, Kunming, Anshun, Wuyishan, and Fuzhou.
Cherry Flower in Wuhan |
In addition, Nanchang Railway Corporation has declared the running of two pairs of high speed tourist trains in March and April to Wuyuan, which is famous for the vast rape flower seas and honored as the most beautiful countryside in China. The train is available on March 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27 and April 2, 3, 4, 9, 10. The fare for a second-class seat is CNY 150.
Hot Spots to enjoy flowers from March to April
Wuhan – cherry blossoms, especially at Wuhan University
Hanzhong in Shaanxi Province – rape flowers
Luoyang in Henan Province – peonies
Guangfu Ancient Town in Suzhou – plum blossoms
Zhoushan in Zhejiang Province – peach blossoms
I would also be grateful for a contact in the UK.
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KP