At 18:30 on June 20th, the "Jing'an · Yiling" tourist train made its maiden stop at Yichangbei Railway Station. Around 500 tourists from Shanghai arrived to embark on their Dragon Boat Festival journey along the gorges.
At the exit, life-sized figures of "Qu Yuan" in traditional official robes and "Wang Zhaojun" in flowing wide sleeves greeted visitors, while local cultural tourism IPs "Tunhanhan," "Zongmanman," and "Chengdiandian" wandered around nimbly, guiding tourists toward the arrival hall.
"Welcome to Yichang for the Dragon Boat Festival!" At the welcome ceremony, tourist representatives were presented with mascots of cultural tourism IPs such as "Chengdiandian" and "Zongmanman." Wonderful performances, including the song Fragrant Wine, the music and dance show Ode to Qu Yuan, and a robot show, pushed the atmosphere to a climax. All attendees posed for group photos to capture the warm moment of the deep bond between Shanghai and Yiling.
"From the zongzi served on the platform to the stage performances in the hall, every detail embodies the hospitality and warmth of this city," said tourist Cheng Jinshuang. During the 6-day, 5-night trip, tourists will take a cruise to the "Two Dams and One Gorge" scenic area, and explore key attractions such as Three Gorges Household and Three Gorges Waterfall.
Jing'an District of Shanghai has provided paired assistance to Yiling District since 1992. Over the past three decades, the two sides have expanded cooperation across industrial transformation, people's livelihood security, social undertakings, and other fields, forging a profound friendship that transcends distance. The "Jing'an · Yiling" tourist train was launched in 2021 and has run regular services since 2024. Its inaugural arrival at Yichangbei Railway Station is a vivid testament to the deep friendship and mutual support between the two regions.
"We plan to run four 'Jing'an · Yiling' tourist trains this year. Besides the first one, we will also launch study tour trains such as 'Shanghai Kids Explore the Three Gorges', covering tourists of all ages in Shanghai." Zhan Runyu, a staff member of Yiling District Culture and Tourism Bureau, introduced that the special trains serve as an important cultural tourism link that connects Yichangbei Railway Station to the Yangtze River Delta market. They not only build a new high-speed rail corridor for connectivity and mutual development between Shanghai and Yichang, but also open a new window to showcase Yiling's openness and unique tourism charm.
Yichangbei Railway Station, as a key node on the Wuhan-Yichang section of the Shanghai-Chongqing-Chengdu High-Speed Railway along the Yangtze River, has seen a steady rise in passenger volume since its opening. Boasting nine platforms and 20 tracks, the station has become the largest high-speed railway station in southwest Hubei. At present, it offers direct services to major cities nationwide, including Beijing, Shanghai, and Hangzhou.