KUNMING, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- A faster train service launched Saturday has cut the travel time by two thirds from southwest China's Yunnan provincial capital Kunming to the scenic town Lijiang.

The electrical multiple units （EMU） run for about three hours on a scenic line that also connects Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, home to the popular old town of Dali, and Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture known for its rich Yi ethnic cultures, according to China Railway Kunming Group Co., Ltd.

Tickets of the new service, with three round-trip trains a day, will be floated based on seasonal and other factors, with a second-class seat from Kunming to Lijiang priced between 197 yuan and 220 yuan (about 28-32 U.S. dollars).