Petit train de Jiayang

The Jiayang Little Train is a narrow-gauge heritage railway running through the hills of Qianwei County in Leshan's hinterland, and it is widely described as the last regularly operating passenger-carrying narrow-gauge steam railway in the world. The line was built to serve the coal mining district around the old Jiayang colliery and survived the closure of much of the mine, gradually transforming from an industrial railway into one of Sichuan's most distinctive heritage attractions.

The train itself is the main draw. The track gauge is barely half that of a standard main line, and the vintage steam locomotives haul wooden carriages through a landscape of terraced fields, bamboo groves, and former mining villages. A round trip takes roughly two hours, climbing through short tunnels and across small viaducts while the locomotive works hard on the grades and periodically stops to take on water. The slow pace, the smell of coal smoke, and the sound of the whistle echoing off the valley walls create an atmosphere that few surviving railways anywhere can still match.

The route is especially popular in spring, when the rapeseed fields along the line burst into yellow bloom and the train is packed with photographers. Along the way, stations and former mining settlements offer stops where visitors can learn about the industrial heritage of the area and see how the railway became the lifeline of an isolated community. Local vendors at the intermediate stops sell snacks and rural produce.

For travelers looking for a day out of Leshan city that is not another temple or mountain, the Jiayang Little Train is a memorable alternative. It pairs the nostalgia of steam with the gentle scenery of the Sichuanese countryside and appeals particularly to families, railway enthusiasts, and anyone with a taste for the slow travel aesthetic.