A maglev train made its official sightseeing trip Friday afternoon in China's economic hub Shanghai, carrying passengers from Longyang Road to Pudong International Airport.

It is the world's first commercial maglev train to be put into sightseeing use.

Wu Xiangming, chief engineer of the Shanghai maglev project, said that since the maglev train was put into trial operation in Shanghai on Dec. 31 last year, the performance of trains in opposite directions at the speed of 430 kilometers per hour has been successful.

According to Wu, the city's maglev train will open to the public on Sept. 20 and 21, as well as during the seven-day National Day holiday.

On Friday, it took eight minutes for passengers to finish a distance of 30 km, and the round trip cost 150 yuan for ordinary passengers and 300 yuan for distinguished guests.

(Xinhua News Agency September 20, 2003)