During the summer travel peak, with persistent high temperatures affecting much of the country, how can passengers enjoy a cooler and more comfortable journey? From August 11 to 27, Hengyangdong High-Speed Railway Station will, for the first time, operate the D4982 overnight high-speed sleeper train from Hengyangdong to Chongqingdong. The train will depart at 22:07 every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, arriving at 8:56 the following morning—achieving the “depart in the evening, arrive in the morning” travel model and offering passengers a new “lie-back and wake up in Chongqing” experience.

According to a station official, the high temperatures across Hunan and the southwest make daytime travel more exhausting. The newly launched D4982 service adopts a “travel at night, explore by day” approach, precisely addressing travelers’ summer pain points. Passengers can board in the evening, rest comfortably in a sleeper berth, and arrive in Chongqing the next morning—avoiding the midday heat, saving a night’s accommodation cost, and enjoying triple benefits in terms of time, effort, and expenses. Priced at 720 yuan for a sleeper ticket, the service is about five hours faster than regular-speed trains, significantly reducing travel time.

As the first direct sleeper high-speed train from Hengyangdong to Chongqing, the D4982 employs a CRH2E model sleeper EMU equipped with air conditioning, USB charging ports, and other amenities to ensure a quiet and clean travel environment. The route passes through Shaoyang and Zhangjiajie, connecting the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area, the Central Hunan Economic Belt, the Wuling Mountain Area, and the Chengdu–Chongqing Economic Circle, creating a cross-regional golden corridor. This service not only offers new nighttime travel options for family visits, business trips, and tourism but also promotes the faster flow of people, goods, and information between Hunan and Chongqing, supporting coordinated regional economic development.

“In the past, I had to transfer to get to Chongqing. Now I can just sleep through the night and arrive, which is so convenient!” said Mr. Li, a Hengyang resident planning a family trip. The Hengyang railway authorities remind passengers that the confirmed operation dates for this service are August 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, and 27, and tickets are available via the 12306 website, app, or railway station ticket counters.

Translator: Jing