Some travel agencies plan to promote the train line as one of Shanghai's signature spots at the upcoming international tourism fair to be held in Berlin, Germany. Some plan to include the high-speed train line in their spring promotions in other Chinese provinces.

The Sino-German developed line, the first commercial magnetic levitation train line in the world, started trial operation this year. The line connects Pudong International Airport in the east and Metro line 2 at Zhangjiang in the west, which links to downtown Shanghai.

Demand for a spin on the Maglev has increased since the line started running, according to a senior official surnamed Jiang of Spring International Travel Service's East China division.

Officials with Shanghai China International Travel Service Co. Ltd also said tourists from home and abroad have shown growing interest in the new train line.

Confident of the Maglev's potential, many local tourism agencies believe it will become a major local tourist spot, helping to boost the local tourism industry.

An official surnamed Wei with the Lingkong Agricultural Park also hails the idea of turning the Maglev train trip into a tourist attraction, saying it will help develop tourism along the train line.

Wei said his agricultural park, near the Pudong International Airport, plans to arrange shuttle buses to the airport to carry train travelers there to visit the park.

However, many travel agencies have misgivings.

The 150-yuan (US$18) cost of a ride on the Maglev will be the biggest obstacle, analysts pointed out.

This price is high in light of the total cost of a 3-day East China tour, usually around 700 yuan, they said.

(eastday.com January 23, 2003)