China's first cross-straits passenger train began running Sunday evening in Haikou, capital of south China's island province Hainan.

The train, destined to Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong Province, will cross the Qiongzhou Straits, which separates Hainan and China's mainland.

The journey will last 12 hours, including 55 minutes of ferry time. A one way ticket for a hard seater costs 138 yuan (16 US dollars).

Li Shaohua, an official with the Guangdong-Hainan Railway Co., Ltd. said that the service, which is cheaper than flying and shorter than sea, provides a new choice to travelers to Hainan, a popular tropical tourist destination.

It is 18 hours' journey from Guangzhou to Haikou by ferry and the minimum price of a flight between the two cities is 250 yuan (more than 30 US dollars).

Source: Xinhua