The Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, China State Railway Group Co., Ltd., the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Transport, the People’s Bank of China, and the National Railway Administration recently jointly issued the “Several Measures to Promote the Integrated Development of Railways and Tourism and Expand Service Consumption” (hereinafter referred to as the “Measures”). The Measures set forth 15 policy initiatives across five key areas—accelerating the tourism‑oriented upgrading of railway infrastructure, enriching the railway‑tourism product portfolio, enhancing the quality of railway‑tourism services, strengthening operational support for railway tourism, and bolstering policy safeguards—to advance the integrated development and mutual reinforcement of railways and tourism, expand the supply of high‑quality services, unlock the potential of railway‑related tourism consumption, and better meet the people’s aspirations for a better life.

In terms of accelerating the tourism-oriented transformation of railway infrastructure, The “Several Measures” clearly stipulate… It is necessary to strengthen the coordinated planning and seamless integration between railways and tourism. Strengthen planning guidance: railway‑related plans should integrate the needs of tourism development, optimize station site selection and layout, and enhance the accessibility and convenience of tourist resources. Tourism‑related plans, in turn, should coordinate the integrated planning and development of cultural and tourism resources with railway infrastructure, fostering synergistic growth between rail transport and tourism.

It is necessary to accelerate the implementation of tourism-oriented upgrades at stations. In areas where conditions permit, implement tourism‑oriented renovations of railway stations at tourist destinations, integrating local cultural and regional characteristics to enhance their cultural appeal. Strengthen the development of supporting tourism facilities and age‑friendly upgrades, and encourage eligible stations to tailor visitor‑specific waiting areas to local contexts, establish convenient transfer corridors, and add dedicated parking spaces or temporary parking zones for passenger vehicles.

We must actively promote the transformation of trains into tourist-oriented vehicles. Encourage all types of social capital to invest in the renovation and upgrading of tourism train equipment and facilities, developing trains that cater to diverse travel scenarios—ranging from short- to long-distance trips—and meet varying demands for quality, comfort, and affordability, while also offering themed options such as senior‑friendly, educational, and health‑and‑wellness journeys. Furthermore, promote cross‑industry collaborations between tourism trains and well‑known intellectual properties, leveraging market‑driven approaches to create themed trains and themed carriages.

In terms of enriching the railway tourism product portfolio, The “Several Measures” propose… We need to develop a diversified range of tourism train products. Deepen the market-oriented operation of tourism trains and encourage tourism enterprises to collaborate with railway operators in designing specialized tourism train products. Promote the development of regionally distinctive, culturally themed tourism trains in areas where conditions permit, thereby creating signature offerings that highlight local tourism. Actively advance the design and development of cross-border tourism train services connecting China with Laos, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, Russia, and other countries. Conduct research to develop tourism train products tailored to inbound travelers, enhancing the international competitiveness and global appeal of railway-based tourism offerings.

It is necessary to develop specialized tourism route products. Fully tap the tourism resources along railway lines and design and develop themed tour routes that highlight natural landscapes, climatic assets, local customs, and historical and cultural heritage. Launch dedicated tourist services operating on fixed itineraries with regular schedules, marketed primarily through ticket sales, while enhancing train‑specific customization and offering specialized tourism‑oriented services. The goal is to create distinctive, well‑supported, and highly acclaimed tourist‑specialized products that showcase regional characteristics.

We must vigorously develop tourism ticketing products. Support local governments and railway operators in integrating tourism resources—such as scenic spots, accommodations, dining, and sports events—with transportation assets—including rail, road, and waterway networks. Explore the development of regionally coordinated multimodal transport products and jointly design innovative railway ticketing solutions. Strengthen the “ticket‑based economy” by leveraging railway ticketing offerings to stimulate linked consumption across business travel, leisure, culture, and health sectors.

We need to launch railway-themed tourism products. Fully leverage the value of modern industrial assets such as high-speed train manufacturing and maintenance facilities to develop railway‑industry tourism products. Encourage the repurposing of decommissioned railcars, shipping containers, and other railway‑related materials to create distinctive train‑themed restaurants, hotels, and other innovative consumption experiences. Vigorously tap into railway cultural resources, revitalizing and making the most of railway stations and museums that hold historical, cultural, and scenic significance, while developing railway‑themed travel itineraries and cultural‑creative products to tell the story of China’s railways.

In terms of enhancing the quality of railway tourism services, The “Several Measures” propose… Station services need to be improved. Encourage local governments to collaborate with railway authorities to leverage their regional cultural and tourism resources, enhancing the diversified services at stations and in their surrounding areas by focusing on dining, accommodation, transportation, sightseeing, shopping, and entertainment. Strengthen connectivity between railways and urban public transit, customized passenger services, and scenic‑area shuttle buses, thereby ensuring seamless access between railway stations and tourist attractions—covering both the “first mile” and the “last mile.”

We need to enhance tourism train services. Improve standards for the operation and management of tourist trains, support the onboard service of branded catering and local specialties, and encourage the development of themed meals such as senior‑friendly and family‑oriented options. Facilitate the inclusion of cultural performances, intangible cultural heritage experiences, creative‑cultural products, and time‑honored brand offerings on board, thereby enriching in‑train services. Explore ways to optimize the transport of sports equipment, baggage handling and delivery, and pet transportation, while strengthening seamless connections between on‑station and off‑station services to enhance the overall travel experience. Continue advancing continuous mobile network coverage across high-speed rail networks and key conventional passenger lines.

Information services must be strengthened. Promote the seamless integration of cultural and tourism information with railway information services, enhance the tourism‑related features of the “Railway 12306” platform, and provide travelers with end‑to‑end travel solutions, including itinerary planning, tourism updates, attraction recommendations, ticket reservations, transportation connections, and hotel bookings.

In terms of strengthening operational support for railway tourism, The “Several Measures” clearly stipulate… It is necessary to strengthen transport capacity support. Maximize the transport capacity of the railway network, coordinate passenger and freight capacities on routes facing tight capacity constraints, and ensure sufficient service to meet demand for tourist trains. Strengthen capacity support for tourism‑oriented services, increase the frequency of tourist trains on popular routes, and cultivate new tourism passenger flows on emerging corridors.

Ticketing services need to be optimized. Optimize group ticket‑booking rules and procedures, enhance the online services for tour groups, address bottlenecks in the group‑ticketing process, and provide end-to‑end service support. Develop differentiated fare strategies and introduce tiered discount pricing policies to unlock greater tourism‑related consumption potential.

Data application must be strengthened. Explore the establishment of a big-data system for railway tourism, strengthen the monitoring, forecasting, and analytical capabilities for passenger flows, and support the design, development, marketing, and operational management of railway tourism products. Enhance cross‑departmental data‑sharing mechanisms among railways, other modes of transport, and sectors such as tourism, sports, and meteorology, leveraging big data, artificial intelligence, and other technologies to bolster the capacity for collaborative governance in railway tourism.

In terms of strengthening policy support and safeguards, The “Several Measures” propose… Fiscal and financial support must be strengthened. Coordinate and leverage relevant funding channels to support key initiatives such as the tourism‑oriented redevelopment of railway stations and the construction of tourism‑related service facilities. Encourage localities that meet the requirements for standardized fiscal subsidy management to introduce subsidies and incentive policies for tourist trains, thereby guiding various forms of social capital to participate, in a lawful and compliant manner, in the development and operation of railway‑based tourism products. Advance pilot projects in cities to foster new business formats, models, and settings for consumption, creating innovative integrated scenarios that combine railways with tourism. Encourage financial institutions to provide financing support for the technological upgrading and equipment renewal of tourist trains, in accordance with market‑oriented and rule‑of‑law principles.

We must support the expansion of market space. Accelerate the opening of the railway tourism market and broaden channels for applying to operate tourist trains. Support enhanced promotion through multilateral and bilateral exchange mechanisms at all levels, overseas tourism marketing campaigns, and major trade fairs. Build the “Rail-Tourism Integration: Enjoy Traveling in China” brand to expand the visibility and influence of railway tourism.