Xinjiang's slow train quick to charm

Polat Borathan, head of the train crew, said that more local people have access to the train now because of the low cost of tickets.

"It costs 55 yuan ($8.10) to travel between Hotan and Kashgar and 5 yuan between Hotan and Moyu county," he said. "The train stops even for just one passenger to get aboard."

The railway line between Hotan and Kashgar is about 500 km long.

At many of the 66 stops along the line, vendors will board to sell food and handicrafts, such as walnuts, pomegranates, wooden bowls and colorful hats.

A member of the Kazak ethnic group, Borathan can speak fluent Mandarin, Uygur and Kazak. With his kindness and patience, he has made friends with many local residents.

He had the idea of letting vendors sell goods on the train in 2018, when he learned that many local farmers had trouble selling their agricultural products.

He also invited bilingual train attendants to introduce the products to travelers.

In 2021, farmers sold goods on the train valued at more than 240,000 yuan.

Borathan and his co-workers have tried to make the train－dubbed the Hotan Jade Dragon－as passenger-friendly as possible.