The launch ceremony for the Z7835 Taiyuan-Lyuliang intercity express takes place in Taiyuan on April 16. The train, which runs from Taiyuan to Lyuliang, will pass through Taiyuan South Railway Station and Fenyang Railway Station. [Photo/Xinhua]

Lyuliang, a tourist city in North China's Shanxi province, has been making full use of its increasingly convenient transportation system to promote local tourism.

The capital of Shanxi, Taiyuan, is now only around a 1.5-hour train ride east of the city, since the Z7835 Taiyuan-Lyuliang intercity express was launched on April 16 –– resulting in shorter journey times between the two cities.

"The intercity express brings Lyuliang into the 1-hour transport radius of the provincial capital and makes it easier for people to visit Lyuliang, benefiting the local economy and tourism," said Wang Liwei, mayor of Lyuliang.

To promote the city's culture and tourism, brochures, videos and radio programs themed around the scenery and history of the city have been made available on the new train service.

Counties and districts in Lyuliang have also enacted a series of preferential policies to attract more tourists to coincide with the launch of the tourist intercity express, according to Zhou Ruimei, an official of Lyuliang bureau of cultural relics and tourism.

For example, the local government will put 3 million yuan ($435,293) in a special fund each year to reward travel agencies which bring large tour groups to Lyuliang. Local counties, such as Fenyang and Jiaocheng, provide preferential services, including substantial discounts on entrance tickets at tourist attractions and on accommodation.

Tourist attractions in eight counties and districts under the administration of Lyuliang along the Taiyuan-Lyuliang railway received 57,800 first-time visitors on April 16 with 1,200 people taking the Z7835 train.

Lyuliang, in the west of Shanxi province, is a city with beautiful scenery and a rich history and culture. It has 5,901 historical sites, and many scenic areas, such as Qikou ancient town, Pangquangou National Nature Reserve and Guandishan National Forest Park.

For more about Lyuliang: 

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