China's panda-themed train fully equipped to serve passengers' cozy journey
China's first panda-themed train is considerately equipped to provide consummate services to passengers on board, having set out on its maiden trip on Sunday night from Chengdu, the hometown of pandas in the country's southwestern province of Sichuan.
Adapted from an old-fashioned type of tourist train nicknamed "green cover train" in China, the brand new "panda train" has been fully modernized from both appearance and facilities.
The train, as its name indicates, is decorated in the theme of giant panda from exterior to interior. Compared with its conventional counterparts, the cute-looking train offers passengers a more comfortable rail journey with multiple modern on-board facilities such as independent toilets and thermostatic showers.
Out of safety considerations, the train also has installed some emergency call buttons for the seniors and children.
"The panda train has a full capacity of 252 passengers, which consists of 10 cars including one car for ticket holders of the top advanced soft sleepers, two for regular advanced soft beds, and five for advanced hard sleepers," said Li Xinde, a staff member with the China Railway Chengdu Group Co., Ltd.
The entertainment needs of passengers have also been brought into consideration by designers of the panda train. In the lounge area of the train, travelers can savor various beverages at the bar, gather a Mahjong gang of three or four in an intimate room, and enjoy karaoke on smart devices.
"This is the karaoke area. Passengers can tap on the screen here to search the songs they like, and then the two LED television screens will play songs on request," introduced Wang Lei, the train conductor on board.
The panda train is designated to run among Sichuan Province, Chongqing Municipality and Guizhou Province this month, linking up many tourism attractions in Chinese southwestern regions on one route. Setting out at dusk and running through night, the special train leaves tourists the daytime for sightseeing.