Chongqing metro begins Thai-language announcements at 3 stations

Chongqing has begun trialling Thai-language announcements at three stations on its urban rail network, as the southwestern Chinese city seeks to make travel more convenient for Thai and other foreign visitors.

The pilot service began on 29 September at Chaotianmen, Xiaoshizi and Liziba stations, according to Xinhua.

Thai was selected as the pilot foreign language for the upgraded service, with the three stations chosen because they are popular tourist destinations among international visitors.

Liziba Station has become a major tourist attraction because trains appear to pass through a residential building. Chaotianmen and Xiaoshizi stations are located near major commercial areas and riverside scenic spots and serve as connections between multiple transport routes.

The move comes as the number of Thai visitors staying overnight in Chongqing rose 154.1% year on year through July, according to the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism. Thailand remains one of the city’s leading sources of inbound tourists.

Chongqing’s metro stations already provide announcements in Chinese and English, while frontline staff regularly receive training to provide bilingual services.

The city’s public transport authorities will continue to assess feedback from the pilot programme and improve services for foreign visitors, according to Xinhua.