Passengers board the train named after Shuozhou depart from Shuozhou on Jan 5. The Shuozhou-Qinghuangdao train passes through Beijing and Tianjin. It's the first direct route between Shuozhou, Beijing and Tianjin. The launch of the train will greatly reduce the travel time for Shuozhou residents going to the two municipalities and will facilitate economic and cultural ties with the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and cities along the bay of Bohai Sea in the northeast of China. [Photo/sx.people.com.cn]

Wang Anpang (L), top official of Shuozhou, listens to the guard's introduction about the newly launched train named after the city of Shuozhou on Jan 5. The air conditioning train has 18 carriages, including carriages with sleepers and dining areas. To promote the culture and tourism of Shuozhou, pictures and pieces of Guangling paper cutting depicting local tourist attractions have been hung in the train with patterns of local landmarks painted outside. [Photo/Shuozhou Daily]