The distance from Urumqi, Xinjiang to Beijing is more than 2,800 kilometers, and it can be reached by direct train in 30 hours and 12 minutes at the fastest; while the distance from Hotan City, Hotan Prefecture, Xinjiang to Urumqi is 1,960 kilometers, but there is a train that takes 32 hours and 55 minutes.
On the southern edge of the Taklamakan Desert, the second largest mobile desert in the world, the “Hotian Yulong” train has been passing through here every day for 13 years. It is a public welfare slow train running in Xinjiang and is affectionately called “Little Slow” by the people along the route. , and it is also an “express train” for people along the line to get rich.
　　The lowest fare is only 4 yuan
The Hotan area, located at the southern tip of Xinjiang, was previously subject to a harsh natural environment, making it inconvenient for residents to travel. In June 2011, the first “Hotian Yulong” passenger train was launched, ending the history of no train service in the Hotan area.
“Take this train, which covers a distance of nearly 500 kilometers from Hotan City to Kashgar City. The fare for a hard seat is 53 yuan. The fare from Hotan City to Moyu County is the lowest, with a hard seat costing only 4 yuan. It is the first choice for many people in southern Xinjiang.” said the train conductor. Polati Khan said.
Responsible for the crew work of “Xiaoman” all year round, Polatihan spends half of the week on the “Hetian Yulong”. This train has a total of 64 stops. “It is a bus-like train. Some small stations along the line only have one or two passengers, but these 'stations for one person' are still preserved.” said Polatihan. .
Although it is a slow public welfare train, the service has not been reduced. Southern Xinjiang has strong winds and sand and high temperatures in summer. In 2019, the vehicle body was changed from a green leather vehicle to an air-conditioned vehicle, and the fare remained unchanged.
Passenger Abriz Yakfu had a beautiful bow tied on the bedside of his bunk. Polatihan said that this is used to identify key passengers, such as the elderly, children, passengers with limited mobility, etc. The flight attendants will focus on them and provide differentiated services according to needs.
“This time when I came out with my child, the flight attendant tied a bow for me. He came to see if we needed help after a while.” Looking at his granddaughter sleeping soundly on the bunk, Alibiz smiled on his face.
　　A welcome convenience measure
“Xiaoman” is a “convenient vehicle” connecting northern and southern Xinjiang, and it is also a “rich vehicle” for people along the route.
Abdulsalam Matisdike, a 24-year-old young man from Hotan City, was going to Urumqi to visit his grandmother. Before departure, he packed two bags of walnuts grown at home, one bag for his grandmother and one bag for sale in the carriage. On this bus, there were other people selling agricultural products like Abdul Salam.
“In the past, according to regulations, passengers were not allowed to sell things on the train.” Flight attendant Ma Yiran Saimaiti recalled that in 2020, she encountered an old man carrying walnuts and red dates for sale on the train. After the exchange, we learned that the old man’s family situation was not very good, and he wanted to see if he could sell some specialties on the train to help support his family.
Ma Yiran and her colleagues used their breaks to visit rural areas in the Hotan area for research. After returning, they applied to their superiors, hoping to allow local people to sell agricultural products and handicrafts on the train.
As a convenience measure, the Xinjiang Railway Department approved their application after studying it. As the news spread, there were so many people coming to sell things. Ma still draws people in need into a WeChat group, and informs them every time she drives, “There are three to four hundred people in the WeChat group, and there are 46 'regulars'.”
Abdulsalamu also brought home-grown pomegranates and small flower hat accessories made by his mother. These are popular items on the train. “Almost every household in our area has these things. In the past, when I went to the Bazar to sell them, the business was not very good. Now there are so many people on the bus, especially people from other places, that basically everything I bring can be sold.” Abdussa Ramu said.
　Mobile Bazaar started on the train
Karri Abdulresi, who lives in Yarkand County, sold handicrafts on “Xiaoman” one day in advance and stayed one night after arriving in Hotan City. Early the next morning, he carried the remaining wooden bowls and wooden spoons onto the train – today was the “Bazaar Day” on the train, and he had received the notification in the WeChat group a few days ago.
“During the peak passenger season, we will organize mobile bazaars from time to time, and all staff will help people sell together.” Polatihan said that the flight attendants spontaneously set up a literary and artistic team to attract the attention of passengers with performances and sell sales at the same time. Product, the effect is very good.
No, as soon as the train started, the music started playing, and the flight attendants started dancing cheerfully. Every time they entered a carriage, the passengers rushed to take pictures. Maiti Tursun Tursun Niazi from Hotan City followed behind with a basket of baked buns, while Karzhi pushed a trolley prepared by the flight attendants and sold wooden bowls and other handicrafts on the spot.
The train left early in the morning, and some passengers didn't have time to have breakfast. Maiti Tursun's business was good, and after the trip, there were not many baked buns left. When he got off the bus at Shasha Station, he received more than 600 yuan on WeChat.
Karri's results were also good, with nearly 400 yuan earned that day. “The round-trip ticket cost 51 yuan, and accommodation cost 40 yuan. Including meals, the cost was just over 100 yuan. I earned more than 1,000 yuan in these two days!”
Seeing how popular the Bazaar on the train was, Ma Yiran had the idea of ​​expanding the Bazaar online. In 2021, the relevant WeChat applet was launched, and Ma still taught 6 farmers to open accounts and launched 26 products. “Nowadays, I can sell thousands of yuan worth of products online every month, and I can do business without leaving home,” Abdulsalamu said.
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