Nanjing is one of the lucky recipient cities of a recent decision by the Shanghai Railway Group to open up 17 new designated Travel Trains, that will run between the summer months of July and August in 2018.
Essentially charter trains, the 17 new routes shall depart and return to/from Shanghai, Nanjing, Ningbo, Hefei, Hangzhou, Suzhou and Wuhu. Each trip takes between 12 and 22 days and is designed to stop at a number of scenic spots along the way. Interested in seeing the Taklamakan Desert? Then book your ticket for the Wuhu to Khotan service which will be running from 2 August.
Beginning on 17, 25 July and 19 August, three such Travel Trains shall originate in Nanjing, destined for Urumqi, Mohe and Xibei (Northwest China), reports the Jiangsu arm of China media portal, Sina. Along the way passengers can visit such scenic sites as Haerbin, Changbai Mountain, Qinghai Lake, the Hulubeir grasslands and the Mogao Grottos, among others.
As from 7 July, the “Red Revolution” travel route will take travellers from Hainan to Guiyang, passing through Jiangxi, Hunan and Guizhou provinces. Stops will include famous “red spots” and natural scenery such as the Zunyi Meeting Site, Loushanguan Scenic Area, Mingyue Mountain, Zhenyuan Qinglong Cave and finally, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, that was made internationally famous as the set for the movie Avatar.
Starting 23 July, the “Silk Road” travel route will kick off from Hangzhou and end in Akesu prefecture, Xinjiang. Stops will include the Grape Valley in Turpan, Dagu Township in Kuqa, and the Sumuer Canyon in Akesu. Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, Mingsha Mountain Crescent, plus many more.
The Shanghai Railway Group have this year steered themselves in the right direction, after a successful trial of Travel Trains last year with the Silk Road route, for which there was tremendous public interest.
Some of the services for this year shall be operated with soft sleeper trains. Ticket prices have yet to be announced.
