Practical Guide to Taking the Jianshui Mini Train

The Jianshui Mini Train runs on a railway whose predecessor was the Gejiu-Linping Railway, which was China's first and, to this day, the only remaining privately-owned railway. It is now a tourist route that features the Republic of China era style and takes on a literary and retro theme, making it a quite distinctive tourism project within the country. The mini train route has four stations: Lin'an Station, Shuanglong Bridge Station, Xianghui Bridge Station, and Tuanshan Station. Tickets are in high demand; they can only be purchased online one day in advance or at the station on the day of travel. Lin'an Station is located in the Jianshui city area, and the ticket includes a round trip. 1 Lin'an Station: The main station of the Jianshui Mini Train, located in the city area, while the other stations are in the suburbs. The station building was constructed in the 1970s and was previously a warehouse for the old Jianshui train station. 2 Shuanglong Bridge Station: The highlight is the Shuanglong Bridge, one of Yunnan Province's famous ancient relics, included in the annals of Chinese bridge construction history. It has seventeen arches, also known as the Seventeen-Arch Bridge, and is a national key cultural relics protection unit. 3 Xianghui Bridge Station: The most characteristic station on the Gejiu-Linping Railway, it is also a modern building with a single eave that combines Chinese and French architectural features. 4 Tuanshan Station: Located 13 kilometers west of Jianshui Ancient Town in Tuanshan Village, it was historically a residence for the Yi ethnic group and is also a national key cultural relics protection unit. Ticket Prices: Peak season: Soft seat 150 RMB/person, hard seat 120 RMB/person; Off-peak season: Soft seat 120 RMB/person, hard seat 100 RMB/person Peak season includes January, February, July, August, and statutory holidays, while the rest of the time is considered off-peak. Departure Times: Morning shift: Departs from Lin'an Station at 9:00, arrives at Tuanshan Station at 10:30, stops at two stations in between, returns from Tuanshan Station at 13:00, arrives back at Lin'an Station at 13:40, does not stop at the two stations in between Afternoon shift: Departs from Lin'an Station at 14:30, arrives at Tuanshan Station at 16:00, stops at two stations in between, returns from Tuanshan Station at 17:50, arrives back at Lin'an Station at 18:30, does not stop at the two stations in between. TIPS: If you can't get a train ticket and you're driving yourself, you can drive along the mini train's route to each station to check in and take photos. After 10:30, the train will be at Tuanshan Station, so you can go on board to take a look and snap some photos. Although this doesn't allow you to experience the mini train, it saves time and money.