"By combining suspension railway with maglev technologies, the train uses less energy and less space, and offers low-cost maintenance," Chen said.

Xingguo's trials are done on an 800-meter track. The train can carry up to 88 people and achieve a top speed of up to 80 kilometers per hour.

Xingguo also has a relatively smaller turning radius and stronger climbing ability compared with conventional transportation options, which makes it a good choice for shuttle services at tourism spots, Chen said.

The train uses technologies related to permanent magnet materials, railways, artificial intelligence and smart manufacturing. Going forward, wider adoption of the train will promote the development of areas like rare earths, said Yang Jie, director of the Permanent Magnet Maglev Technology and Rail Transit Research Institute at the Jiangxi University of Science and Technology.