Since 1909, trams have been trundling down the streets of Dalian, Liaoning province, for nearly 112 years.

"For Dalian, trams are no longer just a means of transportation. They're a carrier of the city's diverse culture and development history," said Jiang Ye, director of the Dalian Museum, who also researches industrial heritage.

Sixteen carriages manufactured in the 1930s are still serving the No 201 bus route.

Zou Benhong, an attendant on the route, said there are more tourists now taking trams for sightseeing.

"Young people like taking photos and videos on the car. Through their records, more people know about the trams," Zou said.

"I've been working at this post for 31 years and I'm going to retire in two years. But I feel that I can't bear to leave. Maybe when I retire, I'll volunteer to be a narrator and tell more people stories about the century-old trams."