At 7:00 a.m. on August 26, the "Bai Yun Hao-Southern Express"—the nation's first Chinese-style scholarly-themed premium tourism train—arrived at Zhangjiajie West Station, marking the successful completion of its inaugural trial run and establishing a new, convenient north-south gateway for inbound tourists to the Greater Zhangjiajie International Tourism Area.

The special train jointly developed by Hunan Culture, Sports, and Tourism Industry Group, Guangzhou Baiyun Industrial Investment Group, and China Railway Guangzhou Group, with its inaugural departure from Guangzhou Baiyun Railway Station at 4:42 p.m. on August 25. It serves as a key project for Hunan to advance railway-tourism integration and empower the international development of the cultural and tourism sector, holding significant importance for enhancing and upgrading inbound tourism in Zhangjiajie.

Positioned as "A Single Express Line Connecting North and South: A Leisurely Journey Through Past and Present," the special train breaks away from traditional passenger transport models by deeply integrating Eastern aesthetics, Huxiang cultural heritage, and Lingnan charm. It skillfully incorporates distinctive elements such as Hunan embroidery and the scholarly tradition of Yuelu Academy to create immersive cultural scenes, serving as a mobile showcase for promoting Huxiang culture overseas and a brand-new platform for Zhangjiajie to connect with overseas markets and showcase Hunan's cultural and tourism image.

The trial operation of this special train has successfully established a bridge for cultural and tourism collaboration between Hunan and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. With Zhangjiajie as the core hub, the line connects high-quality cultural and tourism resources within the province. Through customized full-chain services, it breaks down geographical barriers, addresses shortcomings in transportation infrastructure for inbound tourism to Zhangjiajie, and helps the local cultural and tourism industry transform from traditional domestic sightseeing to an immersive, international business model.

During the trial operation, a full-cycle cultural and tourism product matrix for 2026-2027 was released simultaneously, launching multiple personalized, cross-provincial customized travel routes. The first route connects core landmarks such as Yuelu Mountain, Orange Isle, and Zhangjiajie, incorporating value-added services such as scenic area benefits, folk culture experiences, and live performances. These initiatives aim to continuously enhance the global influence of the Greater Zhangjiajie International Tourism Area and inject new momentum into the high-quality development of inbound tourism in Hunan.

This article is from Hunan Provincial Government. www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translator: Xiao Juan

Chinese source: Hunan Daily