New High-Speed Rail Pass Makes Yangtze Delta Travel Cheaper, Easier

Three new multi-ride high-speed rail passes have been launched in China's Yangtze River Delta to allow up to 15 days of flexible travel across 26 stations on five major lines within the region.

According to China Railway Shanghai Group Co, the passes feature three themed routes.

The "Shanghai-Nanjing-Hangzhou Explorer" route connects the three core cities of the region, with stops in Suzhou, Wuxi, Liyang, Huzhou, and Jiaxing.

The "Mountains and Lakes" route includes popular destinations such as West Lake, Qiandao Lake, Yellow Mountain, and Jiuhuashan Mountain.

The "Water Town Journey" links Nanxun Ancient Town, Hengdian World Studios, the Nanxi River, and the coastline of the East China Sea.

Travelers can choose between two and 10 rides per pass and may board any train that stops along the selected route. Two-ride purchases cannot be used for round-trip trips.

The passes can be bought on the 12306 website, the 12306 mobile app, and at station kiosks. Travelers can purchase passes in the "Multi-ride · Commuter Pass" section of the app, accessible via the "Tourism" tab.

Passengers may reserve seats in advance or enter on the day of travel using the ID used for purchase.

The passes are valid for 15 days from the first ride. Unused passes are refunded automatically after 30 days.

Travelers may cancel unused ride reservations without paying the usual refund fee, railway officials said, although the passes become non-refundable once activated.

The operator said the passes cut time and cost for frequent travelers. A three-leg first-class trip from Shanghai Hongqiao to Yiwu, Yiwu to Hengdian, and Hengdian to Xianju normally costs about 440 yuan (US$62), compared with roughly 309 yuan using the multi-ride pass.