Yi children board Train No. 5633 at Puxiong station. (Photo/Li Kai)
Two low-speed green trains running between Puxiong town, Yuexi county, Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture and Panzhihua city in southwest China’s Sichuan province are being used as “school buses” for local children and a highly convenient mode of transport for local people of the Yi ethnic group.
With their routes covering 353 kilometers and including 26 stops, the green trains - Train No. 5633 and Train No. 5634 - offer trips costing between 2 yuan (about $30 cents) and 25.5 yuan. It takes the trains nine to 10 hours to complete a one-way trip.
The green trains, which are affectionately known as “little slow trains” by the local Yi people, have become busy since late April as schools began resuming classes. Local children often take the trains back home on Friday and to school on Sunday.
Although the trains are slow and children have to spend long hours on the journey, they enjoy the experience and often use the time to do their homework, review texts, and discuss things they have learned with their friends.
In order to ensure the children’s safety, every green train has Yi crew members and a safety team to keep these young passengers safe and promote safety knowledge among them.
Yi steward Emu Rigu and stewardess Wazha Ajimo were once young passengers on the “little slow trains” and now serve as “escorts” on these “school buses”. They hope to see more and more children realize their dreams in the outside world.
A Yi boy does his homework on Train No. 5633. (Photo/Li Kai)
Yi students recite knowledge points to each other on Train No. 5633. (Photo/Li Kai)
A Yi student reviews texts on Train No. 5633. (Photo/Li Kai)
Two Yi students do their homework on Train No. 5633. (Photo/Li Kai)
A Yi student studies on Train No. 5633. (Photo/Li Kai)
Three Yi students get off Train No. 5633 after the train stops at Xide station in Xide county, Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture. (Photo/Li Kai)
Yi student Jiwu Ajia (first on the right, first row) and her friends prepare to take Train No. 5633 to Yuehua town, Xichang, capital of Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture. (Photo/Li Kai)
Friends of Jiwu Ajia (second on the right) surprise her with a birthday cake they had secretly prepared for her. (Photo/Li Kai)
Jiwu Ajia enjoys her time with friends on Train No.5633. She turned 15 on May 16. (Photo/Li Kai).
Jier Wuniu (left) and Jiwu Ajia enjoy their time on Train No.5633. (Photo/Li Kai)
Jiwu Ajia invites her friends to have some of her birthday cake. (Photo/Li Kai)
Jiwu Ajia (third on the left) and her friends get off Train No. 5633 and head for their school. (Photo/Li Kai)
A steward and stewardess explain safety measures to passengers on Train No.5633. (Photo/Li Kai)
Yi stewardess Wazga Ajimo spreads epidemic prevention and control knowledge to Yi students. (Photo/Li Kai)
