Immersive Sanya-Ledong railway commences operation

The Sanya to Ledong tourist railway in Hainan province commences operation on Saturday.

The tourist railway is expected to boost the coordinated development of important transportation hubs, key industrial projects and scenic spots in Sanya city and Ledong Li autonomous county, driving the integrated development of Sanya economic circle.

Spanning 108.8 kilometers, it features 13 stations connecting key attractions such as West Island, Tianya Haijiao, Tianya town, Daxiao Dongtian Scenic Area, Nanshan Culture Tourism Zone, Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City, Yazhou Ancient City, and Jianfengling National Forest Park.

Dubbed as the trendiest in China, the electronic multiple units trains boast designs infused with Hainan's essence, incorporating elements like waves and bougainvillea.

Each train consists of three distinctive carriages and one themed carriage, totaling four carriages in total.

The trains are themed as "phoenix dancing in the nine heavens", "Tianya Haijiao" and "memories of love".

The "memories of love" themed carriage draws inspiration from Sanya's love legend of the "deer turns its head", symbolizing a promise of love. The design depicts a love story between a young Li ethnic hunter and a divine deer using flowing ribbons and threads. The color scheme blends sea-blue, grass-green and cloud-white, aiming to create a fresh, elegant and natural ambiance, said Bao Tengfei, a chief designer at China Railway Rolling Stock Co Sifang.

Entering the distinctive carriage of "explore Sanya", passengers seem to be surrounded by lush greenery, flowing water beneath their feet and a sky-blue ceiling, evoking the essence of a tropical rainforest. The seats in the themed carriage mimic beach chairs, facing both sides of the train, allowing passengers to enjoy scenic views through the windows.

The tourist railway EMU trains utilize an advanced domestic intercity intelligent train platform incorporating technologies such as digital twinning and 5G integration. Customized design considerations were made to suit Sanya's high-temperature, high-humidity environment, ensuring safe and smooth train operations, said Bao.

Inside the train carriages, multiple intelligent displays show real-time train speed, interior and exterior temperatures, upcoming stations, and cabin comfort levels. Lighting, humidity and temperature inside the carriages automatically adjust during the journey, enhancing passenger comfort.

Passengers can interact with the onboard smart system to access information on Sanya and Ledong's tourist attractions, watch movies, and learn about train layouts and routes.

An AI photo-taking system is also available for passengers to capture memorable moments, adding a touch of fun and liveliness to the journey.

In addition to a self-service coffee machine, the carriages are equipped with self-service beverage vending machines, beer dispensers and desktop wireless charging, offering passengers a relaxing and elegant travel experience beyond mere transportation.

The railway will introduce tourist-oriented shuttle services at various stations, including buses, ride-hailing services and shared bicycles, catering to diverse travel needs and enabling seamless access to attractions and parks upon arrival.

The operation of the tourist railway is expected to lead tourists on an immersive journey from popular tourist spots in Sanya through to Ledong, creating an innovative model of railway and cultural tourism, according to Sanya Railway Investment Construction Co.