Trains, no planes or automobiles

The China Railway Pavilion combines nostalgia with fast-train technology, Wu Yiyao reports.

Just one step into the China Railway Pavilion, filled with the sounds of train whistles and the feeling of steel wheels running on rails, will transport visitors on a journey through the development of China's rail industry.

These sounds may be the remnants of traditional trains as China Railway High-speed (CRH) trains take over the nation's rail tracks.

The pavilion displays engines and train parts from the oldest models to the latest inventions, forming a vivid portrait of the evolution of trains in China.

Han Li, a well-traveled 11-year-old boy from Guiyang city in Southwest China's Guizhou province, has visited about 20 cities outside his province.

"I travel on airplanes sometimes," said Han. "But trains, despite their lower speed, give me more opportunities to look at the scenery along the way."

For Han and many young visitors, taking a train is more than a mode of transportation. A train is a place for discovery and fun.

"You can meet a lot of people and talk to them. It's really interesting when you hear different dialects and hear people's stories," said Han.

Looking at the LED lights on the theme wall, which illustrate the latest operation routes of China's railways, Han said he hopes to travel to even more places by train. "When I grow up, I'll earn money and buy as many as train tickets as I can. I want to visit all of China by train."

Han's father said he is more impressed with the increasing speed at which modern trains can travel. Twenty years ago he traveled between Lanzhou in Gansu province and Wuhan in Hubei province at least once a month. He described the experience as a "nightmare" because a single journey took as long as three days. Now, it only takes as little as 18 hours to complete the journey.

"I don't have to travel that route anymore," he said. "But sometimes I do think of taking the quick train to see how different it is now."

For other visitors like Guan Liesheng, being able to operate a CRH train is a dream come true.

Guan, a retired train operator, worked on trains for more than 20 years.

"I started working on trains by shoveling coal into the engine on routes between Henan and Hubei," he said. "It took such a long time for a single trip that we had to take three shifts to complete the journey."

Han retired before CRHs were introduced. But he was finally able to realize his dream of operating one, albeit a simulator.

"It's different and difficult," he said. "It's so difficult that I couldn't handle the machine all by myself."

For visitors who are less familiar with train travel, an eight-minute 3D film at the pavilion is a helpful guide. The film is shown in a small theater in the shape of a train carriage.

Children also love the kid's club and the souvenir shop, where train miniatures in various shapes and functions are on display.

"The pavilion is amazing," said Zhu Xiaohuan, a 12-year-old girl from Shanghai, who has never ridden on a train. She said she looked forward to her first train trip.

The China Railway Pavilion offers everyone, from railway enthusiasts to blossoming young travelers, an unforgettable experience learning about and appreciating China's ever-expanding railway system.

(China Daily 09/10/2010)