China on Friday launched its first cross-province and cross-sea tourist train, linking the southwest Qinghai-Xizang Plateau with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and Hainan ahead of the 2026 Spring Festival travel season.
During the 14-day journey, the train will take tourists on a route combining rail, road, and sea, allowing them to explore iconic attractions in cities such as Changsha in central China, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Macao, Zhuhai, and Haikou in south China.
Passengers will be provided considered services including seamless transfer and luggage carrying throughout the entire journey. More than 70 percent of the passengers are seniors, averaging 65 years old; the oldest tourist is 81.
This train was one of the special trains launched for the upcoming 2026 Spring Festival holiday to meet consumers' different need for tourism.
China launches first tourist train connecting Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, Greater Bay Area, Hainan
Enduring friendships between giant pandas at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in southwest China's Sichuan Province has been captured in recently released footage, showcasing the success of the base's science-backed animal welfare practices.
Captured at the base's Moonlight Delivery House, Star Giant Panda Nursery House and No. 1 Giant Panda Villa, the video clips feature various pairs of same-age pandas joyfully playing and wrestling together.
The practice of housing same-age pandas together is a form of social enrichment, designed to promote interaction and behavioral diversity among individuals.
Panda enrichment refers to scientific conservation methods employed in captivity to enhance the welfare of these national treasures, meet their physiological and psychological needs, and encourage them to display more natural behaviors.
The Chengdu base is a world-renowned facility for ex-situ conservation, scientific research and breeding, public education, and eco-tourism. It is globally recognized for protecting and breeding endangered Chinese wildlife species such as giant pandas and red pandas.
Footage captures panda friendships at Chengdu base
