A thoughtful service aboard China's luxurious Jinxiu Tianfu train
The article explores the emergence of luxury rail travel in China, specifically focusing on the Jinxiu Tianfu train. The author reflects on the evolution of Chinese sightseeing trains from basic transport to high-end, purpose-built experiences that rival international standards.
Why it matters
It highlights the growth of China's domestic luxury tourism market and the country's shift toward high-quality, experiential travel services.
“How did you know this was the most premium train in the Chengdu Panda Train series? And you didn’t just take a short ride – you went straight for the full 16-day, 15-night journey across northern and southern Xinjiang.
“You really know your stuff,” said Katherine Zhang, the “chief butler” of the Jinxiu Tianfu Luxury Train, during our chat.
I understood why she was surprised that I knew about China’s rail experience.
China is vast, and by nature, it is a country made for long-distance train journeys. Yet for many years, most sightseeing trains in China simply evolved from the traditional green trains; there were no purpose-built ones.
To a certain extent, there was perhaps more emphasis on quantity than quality when it comes to the train service there.
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