Slow trains, fast dreams: A story of China's railway impact

A Mobile Market for Villagers

The 4318 and 4317 trains, which run between Tonghua in Jilin province and Dandong in Liaoning province, are among the low-speed trains, known as "charitable trains"—a service providing affordable railway access to residents in remote areas for charitable purposes. For over a decade, they have been the only passenger trains connecting Tonghua and Dandong, providing a vital link for residents in mountainous areas along the route, according to China Railway Shenyang Group, the regional railway operator.

The train services have served as an important bridge for locals with the outside world, enabling them to travel, go to school, seek medical care, visit relatives, and transport goods to market.

On this slow train, villagers along the line can bring their mountain products on board and sell them. The train has even transformed into a mobile market.

"Since many villagers bring mountain products to the market for sale, to facilitate their sales, every Friday, a 'train market' is set up on the train," said Zhang Weichen, an official from China Railway Shenyang Group.

According to Zhang, the idea of the "train market" was proposed to better serve the local villagers.

"We noticed that the villagers had a strong demand for selling their products, so we decided to create this special trading opportunity on the train," Zhang said. This initiative has not only increased the income of the villagers but also enriched their daily lives. Liu and his family are among those who have benefited from the "mobile market."

As China continues to lead the world in high-speed rail development, with the longest network of tracks globally, it also maintains 81 pairs of "charitable slow trains" across more than 20 provincial regions. These trains, though slower, serve as a testament to the warmth and inclusivity of China's railway system, ensuring that even the most remote communities remain connected to the broader tapestry of the nation's progress, according to China State Railway Group, the national railway operator.

For Liu Wei, the rails—both slow and fast—have been more than just a means of transportation. They have been the tracks that carried his dreams, his family's livelihood, and his hopes for the future. As China's railways continue to evolve, they remain a powerful symbol of the country's commitment to bridging distances, connecting lives, and driving forward into a brighter tomorrow.

Liu Shupeng and Liu Qian in Nanchang, Zheng Zheng in Shanghai contributed to this story.