China-Laos cross-border passenger trains to boost tourism

(ECNS) -- Two cross-border passenger trains linking Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, and the Lao capital Vientiane were launched on the China-Laos railway on Thursday morning, making them the first international passenger trains between the two countries after the COVID-19 outbreak.

Train D887 departed Kunming South Station at 8:08 a.m. (Beijing Time) and will arrive in Vientiane at 6:38 p.m., while Train D888 departed Vientiane Station at 9:08 (Beijing Time) and will arrive in Kunming at 7:38 p.m..

The first international passenger train - D887 - on the China-Laos Railway. (Photo: China News Service/ Li Jiaxian)

The journey takes 10 and a half hours, including customs clearance at the railway borders. It will stop at eight railway stations—four in China and the rest in Laos, namely: Kunming South, Pu'er, Xishuangbanna, Mohan, Boten, Luang Prabang, Wanrong, and Vientiane.

In the past, travel agencies could only develop international travel products based on certain international air routes, but the opening of the China-Laos railway passengers trains has not only made travel between the two countries more convenient but also made tourism routes design more flexible, " said Wang Tao, who is in charge of a travel agency in Yunnan Province.

More and more Chinese travel agencies are starting to offer related tourism products thanks to the China-Laos railway, Wang said.