Ningbo receives first Taiwan tourist train

Visitors from Taiwan wave upon arrival in Ningbo. [Photo/Yongpai app]

More than 400 visitors from Taiwan arrived in Ningbo on June 27 aboard the first tourism charter train organized exclusively for travelers from Taiwan, bringing one of the largest leisure tour groups the city has welcomed from the island in recent years.

The travelers began a three-day visit to Ningbo after arriving in Xiamen by ferry and continuing their journey by rail. Their schedule includes time in the city's historic quarters, waterfront districts, and popular shopping areas, as well as opportunities to sample local seafood and other regional specialties.

For Ningbo's tourism industry, the visit signals growing demand for cross-Strait travel as group tours and regional tourism continue to recover. Taiwan has long been an important visitor market for the city, with close business, cultural, and family ties linking the two sides.

The trip follows a series of tourism promotion events held earlier this year, when travel operators from Ningbo and Taiwan met in Xiamen to explore new opportunities for cooperation and visitor exchanges.

Travel between the two destinations is expected to become even more convenient next month. Spring Airlines is set to launch a direct route between Ningbo and Kaohsiung on July 4, operating twice weekly. The new service will offer tourists and business travelers an additional travel option alongside existing links with Taiwan.

Local travel companies say they hope the charter train's success will pave the way for more organized tours, bringing visitors to experience Ningbo's blend of maritime history, urban culture, and coastal cuisine.