Train journey through spring blooms offers respite for residents

While the world we are living in may look different after the pandemic, the delight and comfort that spring provides will never change. During the Tomb Sweeping Day holiday in early April, thousands of Beijing residents recharged themselves with a train trip through a sea of flowers.

Hailed as "a train bound for spring", the Beijing Suburban Railway Line S2 launched on Aug 6,2008. Spanning more than 100 kilometers in length with six stations, it runs from Huangtudian station in Changping district to Yanqing station in Yanqing district.

The train first gained popularity in 2015 when a collection of photos taken from the train went viral online. "I came across these photos and I loved them," a Beijing resident surnamed Shi told People's Daily. "Just to take in the best of spring in Beijing's suburbs and be a part of the beautiful scenery, I came to the station early at 8 am today."

Passengers can either swipe metro cards or scan QR codes on Yitongxing travel app to take the train. They can also book a seat at the ticket window on-site, said a train staff member.

Li Ran, a conductor of the Beijing passenger section of China Railway Beijing Bureau Group, said train attendants will show passengers where to catch picturesque scenery during their journey. Broadcasts on the train will also inform them of tourist attractions that should not be missed.

Every year in late March, mountain flowers on both sides of Line S2 start to bloom, Li said. This year, during the peak season from March 22 to April 7, seven pairs of trains were in service every day. On April 4 and 5, four pairs of trains were added.

The section between the Juyong Pass of the Great Wall and the Badaling section offers passengers the best views of blooming peach and apricot trees.

"This section is known as one of the eight greatest sights of Yanjing, an old alternative name of Beijing," said Li Zhongqing, chief conductor of the train.

It is also witness to Beijing's decades of effort to strengthen afforestation, said a local official.

Back in the 1950s, this area looked barren. Afforestation and beautification projects were carried out until 1962 but the scenery remained dull with few colors.

To improve the landscape, more than 70,000 saplings were planted in March 2019, including white pine, Chinese pine, maple, flowering peach, apricot, goldenrain and clove trees, covering a total area of 759 hectares.

Since then, this section has won praise from passengers for its lush flora. Some of them were attendees of the Beijing Expo 2019 and the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, the venues of those two events were in Yanqing district.

The train's chief conductor added:"The train consists of seven cars and features many seats, spacious carriages and individual passenger space. In particular, its dining car has large floor-to-ceiling windows, so that passengers can enjoy the beautiful scenery while having delicious food along the way."

Another well-received scenic spot is Qinglongqiao station, which was built in 1908 and incorporates traditional Chinese and Western architecture. "This station stopped its boarding and landing operations. Although passengers can't get off at this station, they are still able to feel the uniqueness of this station," Li Ran said.

"It is small in size, but big in importance. It has become a landmark example of China's self-improvement and vigorous progress. It is a living museum and a patriotic education venue," said Yang Cunxin, a 60-year-old stationmaster.

There is a bronze statue of Zhan Tianyou erected at the platform to commemorate the "father of China's railway". He led an all-Chinese team to design and build the Beijing-Zhangjiakou railway, the first of its kind in the country, which took some four years to be completed in 1909.