China Bets on Tourist Trains: How a New Program Will Change Travel Across the Country

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Marta Skylar
Aviation News Editor
28.07.2026 03:17

China Bets on Tourist Trains: How a New Program Will Change Travel Across the Country

China is strengthening the integration of railways and tourism: authorities have announced a package of measures to develop tourist trains, update stations, improve transfers to landmarks, and create new routes for domestic and foreign travelers. For tourists, this means that traveling through China can increasingly be built not only around flights between major cities, but also around a railway route that becomes part of the experience itself.

The news is important not only for the Chinese market. China has one of the most extensive railway systems in the world, and high-speed trains have long been the primary way to move between many of the country's cities. Now, the government aims to turn this transport advantage into a full-fledged tourist product: with themed carriages, special routes, better access to hotels, museums, natural locations, sports, and cultural events.

An official announcement from the State Council of the PRC on June 10 confirms that the document was prepared by eight agencies and organizations, including the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and China State Railway Group. At the center of the program is financial support for the tourist modernization of railway stations, the development of service infrastructure, the attraction of private capital, and the launch of products oriented not only toward domestic passengers, but also toward inbound tourists.

What Exactly China Plans

The key goal, as stated by Chinese state and industry sources, is to deploy over 160 special tourist railway sets across the country by 2030. This does not mean that all of them will appear simultaneously or operate as ordinary daily trains. It is about the gradual expansion of a separate segment where transport, excursion products, accommodation, catering, and local experiences are designed as a single route.

According to China Daily, the policy document contains 15 measures for the integration of railways and tourism. Among them are the updating of tourist-oriented infrastructure, improving conditions for the elderly, creating separate waiting areas for tourist groups, and more convenient transfers from trains to city transport, buses, or shuttles to tourist locations. The latter point is particularly important for foreign guests: a strong railway network does not always automatically mean an easy road from the station to a hotel, national park, or historical district.

A separate emphasis is placed on various travel formats. The authorities want to support both short weekend trips and longer routes, more accessible options for mass tourism and more comfortable premium-level products. The program mentions educational tours, wellness trips, routes for older travelers, themed carriages, and products tied to cultural brands, regional cuisine, festivals, or natural locations.

Why This Has Become Relevant Now

Railway tourism in China already has a noticeable base. According to government data, 2,485 tourist trains were operated on the national network in 2025, which is 33.6% more than the previous year. The total passenger traffic of China's railways last year exceeded 4.25 billion trips, and tourist movements accounted for approximately one-third of this volume. This shows that the railway has stopped being just a way to get from point A to point B: for a significant portion of trips, it is already linked to leisure, culture, and the consumption of services.

Fresh industry data released by Tourism Review on June 22 adds another detail: from January to May 2026, passenger traffic on China's national railway network reached 1.969 billion trips, which is 5.7% more than during the same period of the previous year. During this time, both specially organized tourist trains and designated tourist routes were operated. These figures should be interpreted cautiously: they do not mean that every foreign tourist is already switching to themed trains en masse. But they demonstrate that China sees railway travel as a real channel for the growth of tourism and domestic consumption.

Against the backdrop of competition between destinations, this makes practical sense. Many countries fight for longer routes, higher tourist spending and a more even distribution of guests between regions. If a tourist flies into the capital or a metropolis, spends a few days there, and flies on, smaller cities and natural areas receive little benefit. Railway routes can change this model: by adding intermediate stops, tying the trip to events, selling a night in a second city, an excursion, a local restaurant, or a transfer to a park.

What This Means for Foreign Tourists

For travelers from Ukraine and Europe, the main conclusion is simple: when planning a trip to China, it is worth looking not only at air tickets between major cities, but also at the railway logic of the route. Chinese high-speed trains are often convenient for trips between Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xi'an, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Nanjing, and other major centers. If the new program truly expands tourist trains, travel to less obvious regions may become simpler and more understandable.

At the same time, tourists should not take the announcement as a guarantee that all routes are already available in English, sold through international channels, or suitable for a short first trip. Some products will be oriented toward the domestic market, some toward group tours, and some may be launched seasonally for festivals, exhibitions, sports events, or school holidays. Therefore, the actual availability of a specific tourist train should be checked closer to the date of travel.

Practically, this means several steps:

  • first, determine the international arrival and departure point, and then build the railway part of the route;
  • check whether stations, hotels, excursions, and transfers combine conveniently without overly short transfers;
  • pay attention to ticket purchase rules, passenger documents, returns, and route changes;
  • for themed or group tourist trains, clarify the language of accompaniment, included meals, accommodation level, and the actual program of stops;
  • do not treat a tourist train as a critically important element of the route if it is not yet open for booking or has a test status.

The Role of Major Airports in the New Model

Despite the emphasis on railways, aviation remains the main gateway for most long-distance foreign tourists. That is why the future effect of railway tourism will depend on how conveniently a passenger can transition from an international flight to an internal route. For travel through the capital, it is worth checking information about Beijing Capital Airport (PEK) in advance, and before departure or transfer — the PEK online board. If the route begins or ends in Shanghai, pages about Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG) and transfers from PVG will be useful. For southern China, Guangzhou Baiyun Airport (CAN) may play a similar role.

These internal aviation hubs are important also because a tourist train will not always start from the station located closest to the airport. In large Chinese cities, there may be several railway stations, and moving between the airport, hotel, and station requires time. If a tourist arrives in the evening, planning a morning themed train without an overnight stay in the city is risky. It is better to leave a buffer, especially during peak dates, exhibitions, state holidays, or major sports events.

Why the Program is Important for the Tourism Market

The Chinese initiative fits into a broader global trend: countries are trying to make tourism less dependent on a few overloaded cities and seasonal peaks. Railway tourism can help direct guests to regions that have cultural or natural potential but are less internationally recognized than metropolises. For local businesses, this means demand for hotels near stations, restaurants, museums, guides, bus routes, car rentals, insurance, and digital tourist services.

For China, this is also a tool for developing domestic consumption. If transport is sold together with a themed program, a tourist spends not only on a ticket, but also on accommodation, food, souvenirs, events, excursions, and local services. Such routes can be particularly attractive for older travelers, families, educational groups, and tourists who want to see several regions without complex independent logistics.

However, the program also has challenges. Experts quoted by China Daily note that many existing products remain a simple combination of transport and a basic tour. For a real breakthrough, deeper themes, better service quality, clear booking rules, stronger links with hotels and local operators, and support for foreign languages where the product is designed for guests from abroad are needed. Without this, the tourist train may remain an interesting idea for promotion, but not become a convenient mass tool.

What to Check Before Traveling to China

Tourists planning China in 2026-2027 should follow updates from official railway channels, ticket sale conditions, and entry rules. The development of tourist trains does not eliminate the need for correct documents, a valid visa or visa-free basis, insurance, hotel confirmations, and a time buffer for transfers. It is also important to check whether the chosen route is suitable for independent travel or if it involves an organized group.

Special attention should be paid to luggage and comfort. A longer railway route can be more convenient than a flight if the tourist wants to see the country gradually, but it requires thoughtful packing, access to mobile payments, offline maps, translation of hotel addresses into Chinese, and an understanding of exactly which station the next segment begins. If the program involves stops in smaller cities, it is necessary to check the transfer to the hotel and the return path in advance.

Conclusion

The Chinese program for the development of railway tourism is not a one-time route news item, but a signal of a change in approach to traveling through the country. China wants the train to be not only transport, but also part of the tourist product: with a theme, service, regional identity, and clear links between cities, events, and landmarks.

For travelers, this opens interesting opportunities, but requires more careful planning. The best approach is to combine an international flight via a major hub, one or two well-verified railway sections, and a sufficient time buffer for transfers. If China implements the stated measures with quality, tourist trains may become one of the most noticeable ways to see the country more deeply than through the standard set of metropolises and short excursions.