As soon as she boarded the tourism train in Nanchang, Jiangxi province, in mid-April, 62-year-old Que Chunying felt as if she had stepped back in time and returned to her youth.

"It's been such a long time since I've heard so many old songs from my era. I've met so many peers onboard. We can talk about our lives, sing familiar songs together and I've made a lot of new friends," Que said, describing the six-day journey as "a wonderful time".

She was particularly fond of the onboard cultural performances which featured traditional Chinese folk songs, dances and calligraphy demonstrations. "When the medley of classic songs started, everyone got so excited," Que recalled. "By the end, it turned into a group chorus-even the shyest passengers started to hum along."

Que is among a growing number of seniors who enjoy taking "silver-haired" trains, where scenes like hers are becoming increasingly common.