A train running between Harbin and Shanghai is turning a long journey into a cultural experience. The Z174, launched by China Railway Harbin Group as the region's first movie-themed train, departs Harbin West Railway Station and arrives in Shanghai the next day at 1:14 pm, after a journey of about 24 hours.
Bringing the cinema onto the train
Step aboard the train, billed as a Harbin-Shanghai mobile film museum, and classic movie posters, vintage projectors and clapperboards are everywhere. Passengers can scan a code to watch films on demand, the dining car has been turned into a mobile screening room with a large screen, and there are interactive activities along the way such as movie quizzes and dubbing sessions. A staff member in charge of publicity said it is a mobile space of light and shadow that blends film watching with relaxed cultural experiences.
For many travelers, slowing down is part of the appeal. Li Xin, a 43-year-old passenger, said she prefers trains, which are stable, spacious and comfortable and ideal for long trips. There are also activities designed for children, and one attendant said they help children experience film editing.
More and more themed trains
The movie theme is only one of many. The railway group also runs trains themed around music, soccer and barbecue, packaging journeys into different experiences. In mid-July, a China-Russia cross-border tourism train left Suifenhe Railway Station carrying about 180 tourists to Vladivostok, adding to the choices for rail travel.
As travel becomes more than moving from one place to another, the train, a traditional means of transport, is taking on new cultural meaning. For passengers, the value of a journey may lie somewhere between the scenery outside the window and the stories inside the carriage.
