At 7:00 AM on August 26, the "Southern Train·Baiyun" carrying a full load of guests successfully arrived at Zhangjiajie West Station. The train, which officially began trial operation from Guangzhou Baiyun Station on August 25, is a joint project of Hunan Culture, Sports and Tourism Industry Group Co., Ltd., Guangzhou Baiyun Industry Investment Group Co., Ltd., and China Railway Guangzhou Bureau Group Co., Ltd., successfully opening a new channel for cultural tourism linkage between the north and south, injecting new momentum into the development of inbound tourism in Zhangjiajie.

The exit of the station was bustling and festive, with a lively and joyful Tujia drum dance welcoming ceremony. The ceremony, featuring rich and authentic Tujia folk customs, solemnly welcomed the first group of overseas travel agents from home and abroad, allowing the guests from afar to experience the charm of Zhangjiajie's rich ethnic culture and the city's warm hospitality.

As the first high-quality tourist train in China themed around traditional Chinese scholarly families, the "Southern Train·Baiyun" is positioned as "connecting North and South, leisurely exploring the past and present." It is a key cultural tourism project in Hunan Province to implement the railway-tourism integration strategy and empower the construction of the Greater Zhangjiajie International Tourism Zone. The train deeply integrates the unique culture of Hunan with the concept of Eastern aesthetics, creating a mobile window for the dissemination of Hunan culture to the outside world with a high-quality, immersive travel experience, and building a dedicated platform for Zhangjiajie to connect with overseas tourists and promote its cultural tourism brand.

Liu Shengbo, Director of the Hunan Provincial Inbound Tourism Commission and General Manager of Hunan Huatian Travel Service, stated in an interview that all the guests on this inaugural trip were key overseas travel agencies, bringing together representatives from the cultural and tourism industries in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. After its trial operation, the "Southern Train·Baiyun" will operate regularly, continuously and specifically targeting overseas tourists to Zhangjiajie.

Liu Shaoweng, Chairman of Thailand Holiday Tourism Group and a representative of the overseas travel agencies who participated in the first experience, highly praised the high-quality cultural and tourism experience of the "Southern Train·Baiyun". He stated that the "Southern Train·Baiyun" perfectly meets the travel needs of today's high-end inbound tourists with its elegant traditional Chinese design, comfortable accommodations, and immersive cultural and tourism atmosphere. It is the best-quality themed tourist train he has ever experienced in China. His personal visit to Zhangjiajie and experience of its magnificent scenery has filled him with confidence in Zhangjiajie's cultural and tourism resources and the development of inbound tourism in Hunan. He will leverage the resources of the Thai tourism industry to fully promote Zhangjiajie's high-quality cultural and tourism resources.

This trial operation focuses on connecting the core cultural and tourism resources of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and Hunan Province. With Zhangjiajie as the central hub, it integrates high-quality cultural and tourism sites within the province, breaking down regional barriers to cultural and tourism development through customized, high-quality, full-chain services. Leveraging the advantages of cross-regional railway connectivity, the route precisely empowers the construction of the Greater Zhangjiajie International Tourism Zone, helping Zhangjiajie's cultural and tourism industry transform into an immersive, all-encompassing international tourism destination.

As a core bridgehead for inbound tourism in Hunan, Zhangjiajie boasts outstanding advantages in cultural and tourism development. The launch of the "Southern Train·Baiyun" transcends traditional passenger transport services, establishing a cross-regional and international cultural and tourism exchange platform centered on distinctive cultural and tourism IPs. This new channel will precisely support Zhangjiajie in cultivating the inbound tourism market, broaden its channels for attracting high-end overseas tourists, promote Hunan's natural and cultural resources to the international market, continuously enhance the global reputation and influence of the Greater Zhangjiajie International Tourism Area, and explore new paths for the high-quality development of Hunan's inbound tourism industry.

(Source: Zhangjiajie Daily reporters Xiang Jianrui and Tuo Haixia)