Harbin launches train service with free costume photoshoots for unforgettable journey

An eye-catching train in Harbin, known as the "ice city" in Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, quickly captured the hearts of passengers on Thursday with its unique photoshoot service, which allows passengers to pose for photos in elaborate costumes in various settings.

The K5197 tourist train, operated by China Railway Harbin Group, departs from Harbin and takes passengers on a two-hour journey to the Yabuli Ski Resort, providing them with a novel and unforgettable experience during their journey.

The photoshoot service is available to passengers both on the waiting platform at the railway station and aboard the train, with different settings for photos arranged, featuring themes such as Harbin street views, ice and snow and folk customs.

"We offer photoshoot service on the train, including costume and makeup. Now we receive a growing number of passengers, and I do makeup for at least six or seven ones every day. They speak highly of my service," said Su Ruiqi, a makeup artist on the train.

The train provides amenities like dressing and changing areas, as well as a selection of free costumes. Passengers can make reservations via their mobile phones, and the photographers, composed of railway staff with a passion for photography, are on hand to help capture special moments.

"We used to wish we could arrive at the station quickly when we took the train before. But this time, we want to stay on the train a little longer. We have so much fun taking photos and chatting with others," said passenger Guo Yuqing.

"This trip is very enjoyable. I think it's really cost-effective. A train ticket worth just 49.50 yuan (about 6.7 U.S. dollars) can bring so much good emotional experience. Plus, frozen pears and persimmons are also free to enjoy!" said Wen Shan, another passenger.

Harbin's railway department plans to introduce more themed train services, including one featuring intangible cultural heritage, to attract more tourists and further promote local tourism.

"In our future work, we will continue to enhance the quality of our service and improve the photography activities throughout the train journey," said Zhang Yan, a train crew official with the China Railway Harbin Group.

Harbin launches train service with free costume photoshoots for unforgettable journey

Harbin launches train service with free costume photoshoots for unforgettable journey

The Global Security Initiative (GSI) proposed by China has shifted the paradigm in thinking about global security away from the traditional zero-sum mentality toward a vision rooted in dialogue and development, said a Chinese expert on Tuesday.

In April 2022, China proposed the Global Security Initiative (GSI), which aims to create a new path to security that prioritizes dialogue over confrontation, partnership over alliance, and win-win over zero-sum thinking.

The initiative provides a new course and approach to addressing the root causes of international conflicts and solving security challenges facing humanity.

During an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Wang Xinsong, associate professor at the School of Government at Beijing Normal University, hailed the initiative's importance amid escalating global challenges.

"It's been four years and we have witnessed that the Global Security Initiative or GSI has transformed from a framework in principle to an action plan with many actions having taken place in mediating the conflicts. The major difference between the GSI and the traditional and the existing mainstream idea about global security is that the mainstream idea is being the zero-sum mentality where the belief is that one country's safety is possible only if its neighbors safety is not existent. The GSI shifts the paradigm in thinking about global security away from the zero-sum mentality by arguing that security at the end of the day is very much related to development," Wang said.

Over the past four years, China has consistently promoted the implementation of the GSI. By the end of 2025, the initiative has received support and appreciation from more than 130 countries and regions, as well as international organizations, and has been explicitly incorporated into more than 140 bilateral and multilateral documents at home and abroad.

China's Global Security Initiative shifts paradigm away from traditional zero-sum mentality: expert