A special train ticket from Xi'an to Yulin issued on Oct 7, 2017. [Photo/VCG]

In an attempt to offer a more flexible service for people travelling within Shaanxi, the Xi'an Railway Bureau teamed up with Tsinghua University to try out a new passenger service.

Through it, passengers were able to log on to their Sina Weibo account or scan QR codes to choose the train tickets they wanted to buy.

But because the service was specialized, the train would only depart when all the spaces were taken, rather than at specific times.