Chinese authorities said the country will launch "the most luxurious train in the world" connecting Beijing to Lhasa, Tibet's capital city. China claims the 1,142-kilometre railway will help modernize and develop Tibet. The train will begin operations on September 1, reports said.

"The interior of the train will be decorated according to the standards of a five-star hotel, making it the most luxurious train in the world. Such a train can only seat 96 passengers. The fare would be about 20 times the normal price and also much more than an airline ticket," said Zhu Mingrui, general manager of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway Corporation, in an interview.

The rides, however, will be about 20 times pricier than ordinary fare of about 2,000 yuan ($280), reported Xinhua news agency. Some 96 people will enjoy the train's unique facilities offered in 12 passenger cars, two dining cars and a sightseeing car, the release added.

Three trains are set to ply the route from Beijing to Lhasa every eight days. The ride on a luxury train takes five days. Devoid of traditional auto parts such as car wheels, the luxury train, through its plethora of plush offers, is expected to draw immense interest.

Each train will have 12 passenger cars, two dining cars and a sightseeing car. Each passenger car will have four ten-square-meter suites that feature a living room, a double bed, and bathing facilities.

However, critics say that the line is allowing the Han Chinese, the national majority, to flood into Tibet, leading to the devastation of the local culture and accelerating environmental degradation of the region. China has occupied Tibet since 1950.

Separately, China Railway Construction made a weak debut on Monday amid global stock jitters. The company, which built part of the train line to Tibet and the track of Shanghai's super-fast magnetic levitation train, closed at 11.64 yuan ($1.63), up 28.19 percent from its IPO price of 9.08 yuan, according to AFP.

The company’s combined fund raising labors in Shanghai and Hong Kong made it the biggest IPO in 2008. However, analysts said its performance on its opening day in Shanghai was at the low-end of expectations. "It is the smallest rise in opening trade among stocks debuting on the market recently," said Cao Xuefeng, an analyst with West China Securities.

According to analysts, the overall weakness in global and domestic equity markets was to blame for the company’s a bit jaded unveiling. "Share supply appears to be outstripping demand this year. That is the main reason for a weak debut," Cao noted.