Customers from Yi ethnic group carry luggage from of train at Xide station on Jan 16. [Photo/xinhuanet.com]

As shiny bullet trains whoosh past new stations around China, some part of the country is still not ready to say goodbye to the old-fashioned green trains.

In Southwest China, there is a train line connecting Chengdu in Sichuan province and Kunming in Yunnan province which still runs green trains. Without air conditioners, dining cars and sleeper carriages, the train has operated for approximately 50 years.

Customers wait in line to get on the train at Mala Da Station on Jan 16. [Photo/xinhuanet.com]

Beginning operations in the July of 1970, the 600-kilometer line passes 50 stations including Yunnan’s Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture.

Along the railway line, rests Sichuan’s Daliangshan poverty area. Mainly inhabited by members of the Yi ethnic group, this area’s transportation is undeveloped and the train line is the only transportation for local residents.

Every 10 to 20 minutes the old green train stops at a station and has become a regular part of the scenery in Southwest China.

Customers from the Yi ethnic group ride the train to go to market in Xide county, Sichuan province on Jan 16.