The cherry blossom-themed trains on China's first suspended monorail line in Wuhan, the capital of central China's Hubei Province, have attracted numerous tourists with their floral carriage decorations and a unique opportunity to view pink blossoms from a stunning aerial perspective.
From early March to April, Wuhan transforms into a floral wonderland as cherry blossoms blanket the city in soft pinks and whites. The "sky trains" are adorned with cherry blossom elements inside the carriages, providing tourists with an immersive experience.
"Capturing the monorail train from this angle enables it to be framed together with cherry blossoms, creating a very romantic scene," said a tourist.
"I think the monorail train is very advanced, refreshing, and truly impressive," said another tourist.
The suspended monorail line, which opened to the public in September 2023, spans a total distance of 10.5 kilometers, features six stations, and passes through the Optics Valley Ecological Corridor.
Dubbed "the Optics Valley Photon," the monorail train appears to hang upside down because the track is positioned above. Passengers can enjoy the city from an entirely different perspective through the glass floor beneath their feet.
The entire operation process of the monorail train is fully automated and requires no human intervention.
"At that time, we sought to have a fast sightseeing tool throughout the entire green corridor, which is a fundamental facility for the corridor. Since its operation in September 2023 until now, our total passenger traffic has reached 2.1 million people," said Yang Qingmei, director of the planning and design department at Optics Valley Traffic Company, the operator of the line.
"In other cities, there are no trains hanging above the tracks, and the carriages underneath are suspended, allowing passengers to see the scenery below their feet, which is particularly novel," said Tong Le, a tourist.
Futuristic "sky trains" in China's Wuhan allure tourists with cherry blossom-themed decor
Futuristic "sky trains" in China's Wuhan allure tourists with cherry blossom-themed decor
Futuristic "sky trains" in China's Wuhan allure tourists with cherry blossom-themed decor
South China's Guangdong Province is accelerating its transformation into an international medical tourism hub, positioning itself as a destination for patients worldwide seeking affordable, high-quality care.
The push follows a joint initiative announced in late March by nine Chinese government departments, including the Ministry of Commerce, aimed at boosting spending by foreign tourists and enhancing exports of tourism services as part of broader efforts to expand the country's service sector.
Every day, some of the most complex surgeries are performed here. Li Zilun, deputy director of the division of vascular surgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‑sen University, is among the doctors capable of carrying out these intricate procedures.
He recently completed surgery on a patient with an aortic aneurysm, a condition often described as a "time bomb" in the body’s main artery, increasingly common in aging societies around the globe. Li also specializes in highly difficult and pioneering procedures, including repairing leaks caused by failed grafts.
"This was a very challenging case. And then, we implanted the covered stent to eliminate the endoleak. Actually, the outcome was pretty good. The patient will be discharged today," said Li Zilun.
The ability to handle such complex cases -- combining international techniques with domestically produced devices -- is drawing patients from around the world to seek treatment. In addition, high safety standards and low costs are also major draws.
"Our government is encouraging innovation. So, lots of physicians -- including our vascular surgeons -- we are actively involved in the innovation that helps to increase the effectiveness and safety, and also bring down the cost," said Li.
This hospital is one of the first in Guangdong to be designated by the provincial health commission as a pilot site for building an international medical service hub.
The growing number of patients has pushed the hospital to explore new ways to transform every step -- from treatment to payment and everything in between -- into a seamless experience, reducing waiting times and delivering better care for patients.
"I think it's fast. When the patient come here for just about, I think, one week, you can solve the problem," said Xiao Haipeng, president of the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University.
The hospital is also deepening its international cooperation with top-tier medical institutions, including those at Harvard University.
"Not just for China, for the whole globe, we are facing health care challenges -- emerging infectious disease and chronic, lung infectious diseases, and also the aging population, also the shortage of healthcare workforce," said Xiao.
In response to these challenges, China is promoting its own solutions, including aggressive innovation in artificial intelligence (AI)-driven workflows, while stepping up research and development investment and global engagement along the way.
"In recent years, the innovation in Western medicine is dramatically growing. An example of my hospital -- in the past few years, we have 140 innovations and seven of them are international leading innovations," said Xiao.
As global demand for medical tourism grows, China is positioning itself as a new destination. Official data shows that the number of foreign patients in Guangdong increased by 20 percent last year. Among them, the growth in inpatient admissions was even faster, rising by 76 percent.
Guangdong fast-tracks pilot for int'l medical service hub
