Overnight sleeper links Shenzhen with Zhangjiajie, western Hubei

A new overnight sleeper train connecting Shenzhen with major tourism destinations in western Hunan and Hubei is scheduled to make its inaugural departure from Shenzhen North Railway Station at 7:34 p.m. today.

Travelers line up to board trains at Shenzhen North Railway Station during the summer travel season. Cai Weize and Tian Tian

The D9792 service will reach Xianfeng Railway Station in Hubei Province at 8:18 a.m. tomorrow, allowing passengers to travel overnight and begin their visit the following morning. The journey will take 12 hours and 44 minutes.

The train will stop at Humen, Guangzhou South, Hengyang East, Fenghuang Ancient Town, Jishou East, Furongzhen, Zhangjiajie West and Longshan North before reaching Xianfeng.

Among the destinations served are Fenghuang Ancient Town, known for its historic riverside architecture, Furong Town and the mountain landscapes of Zhangjiajie. Jishou East provides access to attractions including Aizhai Bridge, while Hengyang East is a gateway to Hengshan Mountain.

An athlete competes in a highline event above the sandstone peaks of Huangshizhai Scenic Area in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park on Aug. 18, 2025. Zhangjiajie is among the major tourism destinations served by the new overnight sleeper train between Shenzhen North and Xianfeng. Xinhua

Xianfeng County is in Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture. Nearby attractions include the Tangya Tusi Site, part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Tusi Sites, and Pingbaying National Forest Park.

The return D9791 train is scheduled to leave Xianfeng at 6 p.m. tomorrow and arrive at Shenzhen North at 8:15 a.m. the following day. In addition to most of the outbound stops, the return journey will call at Huaihua South, Longhui and Shaoyang.

The service will operate only on selected dates during the remainder of August. The Shenzhen-to-Xianfeng train will run Aug. 11, 12, 18, 19, 25 and 26, while return services will operate Aug. 12, 13, 19, 20, 26 and 27.

A second-class seat for the full journey costs 521 yuan. Discounted sleeper fares are 720 yuan for an upper berth and 810 yuan for a lower berth.

Passengers should check availability and any schedule changes through the official Railway 12306 website or app before booking.