Panoramic tourist train begins trials in Yunnan

The world's first panoramic tourist train customized by CRRC Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive in Zhuzhou, Hunan province, recently started no-load trial operations in Lijiang, a tourist city in Yunnan province.

The train, dubbed the Mirror of the Sky, will officially begin operating between the ancient city of Lijiang and Yulong Snow Mountain, a famous scenic spot in Yunnan, after three months of trials, authorities said.

It will take only 20 minutes for tourists to arrive in Yulong Snow Mountain from the tourist distribution center in Lijiang's urban area, they said.

Tourists can enjoy the beautiful natural scenery along the railway line, authorities said.

The first phase of the railway reached 20.8 kilometers and was designed to reach a speed of 70 kilometers per hour.

Construction of the project, which links Baisha, Yushuizhai, Dongbagu and Ganhaizi in Yunnan to Yulong Snow Mountain, began in September 2020.

It is the first urban rail transit line in Lijiang, a World Cultural Heritage city, and also a special tourist railway line connecting Lijiang with Yulong Snow Mountain, a 5A scenic spot.

Construction of the special tourist track has overcome many difficulties, including unfavorable geology, high altitude and a fragile ecological environment in snowy mountains over the past two years and two months to reach the trial operation phase, a senior executive from CRRC Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive said.