A couple enjoys the Cantonese-style baked perch with egg yolk. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]

This year's Spring Festival travel rush saw the debut of the "1596" restaurant on the Ningbo-Guangzhou route operated by the Hangzhou Passenger Transport Division, aiming to create an affordable and delicious dining experience for passengers during their journey.

"The number '1596' represents the mileage of this type of conventional-speed train traveling from Ningbo to Guangzhou. Unlike high-speed train meals, the food in our restaurant is prepared by chefs on the train, meaning it's freshly-cooked and more delicious," said Chen Meifang, a train attendant, on Jan 17, aboard the K212/209 train from Ningbo to Guangzhou.

The menu features nine varieties of boxed meals, including five set meal boxes, each with four dishes and soup, priced at 30 yuan ($4.2), and four budget meal boxes, ranging from 15 to 20 yuan. Additionally, there are five chef-recommended dishes, such as West Lake-style fish, Jiangxi-style sauteed chicken, and Cantonese-style baked perch with egg yolk, priced between 38 and 48 yuan. Two clay pot rice dishes are also available, each priced at 25 yuan. The restaurant also offers delicious breakfast options like Hangzhou-style xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) and noodles, Yangzhou fried rice, and hot and sour rice noodles.

Chefs and passengers pose for a group photo. [Photo/WeChat account: gh_18771061cfc5]

"The sauteed chicken is delicious and appetizing," said a woman surnamed Xie, enjoying her first onboard meal. She expressed surprise and satisfaction at the food, breaking the stereotype of train meals being a last resort.

"Can I have another bowl of rice?" asked a man surnamed Gao from Shanxi. "Unlimited rice for any set meal, all you can eat!" replied Luo Jun, an attendant.

"In the future, all conventional-speed trains throughout the division will improve their catering services in their own way, enhancing the dining experience for passengers and ensuring affordable, delicious, and reliable meals during their journeys," said a spokesperson from the Hangzhou Passenger Transport Division.