SEOUL, February 04 (AJP) - “Wow, the train is moving!” Children visiting the exhibition during winter break gasp as they watch a miniature train pass through an exotic landscape. Visitors of all ages, from families to adult attendees, pause in front of the meticulously crafted cityscape and lifelike moving models, momentarily immersed in a pocket-sized version of Europe.
Opened in 2022, the Nowon Train Village is a railway-themed exhibition space that recreates European natural scenery and urban landscapes through detailed dioramas. The venue consists of two sections — the Switzerland Hall and the Italy Hall — offering visitors a chance to experience railway culture alongside the history and character of European cities through miniature train operations.
The Switzerland Hall presents alpine landscapes and railway villages scaled down to 1/87 of their actual size. Trains run through settings inspired by Zurich and Jungfrau, Bern and the Matterhorn, Mont Blanc and Geneva. Cars, bicycles and pedestrians move throughout the diorama, while lighting changes every 10 minutes to alternate between daytime and nighttime scenes, giving visitors different impressions of the same landscape.
The Italy Hall, which opened on Feb. 1 as a follow-up to the Switzerland Hall, occupies more than twice the exhibition space. It showcases Italy’s historical heritage and urban scenery, featuring landmarks such as the Colosseum in Rome, cruise ships along the coast of Naples, Florence Cathedral and gondolas in Venice, all recreated at a 1/87 scale. Miniature trains run continuously through the exhibition.
Dynamic elements add movement to the displays, including an erupting Mount Vesuvius, moving cruise ships and chariot races. Playful scenes, such as Superman straightening the Leaning Tower of Pisa, add imaginative touches that draw visitors’ attention. More than 10 trains operate simultaneously across 10 rail lines inside the Italy Hall.
Centered on trains as a shared theme, the Nowon Train Village allows visitors to compare landscapes and cultures across different European countries, attracting a steady flow of family visitors during the winter vacation season.
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