The "Jiayang small train" passes through blooming flowers. /Courtesy of Zhang Xiang
To meet growing demand, the train operation company has added some sightseeing trains equipped with air-conditioning, soft seats and glass windows. Each tourist is charged 80 yuan (12.7 U.S. dollars) for a single trip, compared to the five yuan (0.79 US dollars) that locals pay for the shabbier locomotives.
The train hasn't hauled coal for many years, as two of the three coalmines in the region have closed. But in the town of Bajiaogou, seeing the buildings of that era, it seems that time has stood still over the decades. It has also become an attraction for tourists.
The train operator has bigger plans along with greater investment. But no matter how prosperous the area becomes, for locals, taking the small train has become a way of life that won't change anytime soon.
