Six cities will have direct train access to Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region, by July 1 next year upon the completion of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, according to China's Ministry of Railway. Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Xining and Lanzhou will all operate a direct line to Lhasa with brand new plateau trains. The luxurious rail line will target high-end customers from both home and abroad, particularly train devotees from Europe and North America, the Ministry of Railways said. Travel agencies will sell tour packages that include the train ride which will take around 48 hours from Beijing to Lhasa. The Qinghai-Tibet Railway, from Xining of Northwest China's Qinghai Province to Lhasa with a distance of 1984 kilometres, is by far the longest plateau railway with the highest altitude in the world. It was completed in October.

Chopper protects Wall

A helicopter named "Great Wall" has joined forces in the protection of the Great Wall itself. The chopper, a Bell 206 L imported from the United States, was donated by the Beijing Capital Air. At present, it is used for aerial photography over the Great Wall for database keeping as well as some sky patrols. In the future, it may also offer sightseeing services for visitors, according to Dong Yaohui, deputy director of China Great Wall Society.

Private Air to Take off

Two new private airlines are expected to start flying in May next year, according to General Administration of Civil Aviation of China. The two airlines, each with 80 million yuan (US$9.9 million) in registered capital, are currently awaiting final government approval before starting operations. Once approved, one of the airlines will operate regional passenger and cargo flights between Shijiazhuang, a three-hour drive from Beijing, and nearby cities. The other airline will fly routes from Kunming, Yunnan Province, to other cities.

Choo choo, boo hoo

On December 6, the howling whistle of a steam locomotive cut through thick white steam and dark smoke along the Jitong-Tongliao railroad in Northeast China. China produced its first steam locomotive in 1956, with around 5,000 made in the following decades. At present, there are only 27 steam trains remaining in China, and also in the world, that can still run a distance of 150 kilometres, providing sightseeing for global steam locomotive lovers. However, in less than one month this train service will be no more.

This iconic invention of the Industrial Revolution heralded a new era of transportation. Over the last few decades, these venerable trains were phased out in favour of their diesel-powered descendants, and by the 1990s steam locomotives were still operating as passenger trains in only three countries: China, India and South Africa. By the year 2000, it was only in China that the remaining 602 machines were in operation. By the end of this year, the last surviving steam locomotives will bid adieu, signalling the end of an era.

(China Daily 12/16/2005 page10)