Harbin will continue to run a special train service specifically for tourists travelling between Harbin in Northeast China’s Heilongjiang province and Altay city in Northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region this year, in an effort to boost the development of the tourism industry and cultural communication between the two cities.

The “Longtai” tourist train will operate from June to September, making 10 journeys along the railway route and crossing 33 cities in 10 provinces and autonomous regions.

The train will pass through Heilongjiang province, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, and Gansu province before finally arriving in Altay city. The train service offers tourists a chance to appreciate the beautiful scenery, including dense forests, vast grasslands, desolate deserts and majestic mountains.

The train service is targeted at middle aged and elderly tourists. The trains are equipped with all modern facilities, allowing tourists to enjoy a pleasant journey with comfortable beds at a slow pace during the 14-day travel period.

In 2017, four tourist trains operated on the same railway travel route, bringing around 3,000 tourists to Altay, a popular tourist destination in Xinjiang.

This year, the number of tourists visiting Altay through “Longtai” tourist train is anticipated to exceed 10,000.