A train runs on the Zhangjiajie-Jishou-Huaihua line that opens on December 6, 2021. (Photo/CCTV)

A high-speed railway line linking a number of popular tourist destinations in Central China's Hunan province opened on December 6, said the local authorities.

Passengers take the first train operating on the Zhangjiajie-Jishou-Huaihua High-speed Railway in Jishou, Hunan province, on December 6, 2021. (Photo/China Daily)

The Zhangjiajie-Jishou-Huaihua line (张家界至吉首至怀化高速铁路), with a design speed of 350 km per hour, has seven stations including the famous Fenghuang ancient town. Zhangjiajie, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and other tourist destinations are also linked by the line.  Residents can take the high-speed railway from Guangzhou South Railway Station to Zhangjiajie West Railway Station.

The Zhangjiajie-Jishou-Huaihua high-speed railway runs through a mountainous area in the Wuling Mountains, Hunan province. (Photo/China Daily)

The line filled in a gap in the railway network of northwestern Hunan while improving the national transportation system. It will also help advance the rural revitalization of the western part of the province.

A train runs on a section of the Zhangjiajie-Jishou-Huaihua High-speed Railway during a test run in October 2021. (Photo/China Daily)

"The line has shortened the distance between western Hunan and the rest of the country," said Mi Liya, a 64-year-old passenger.

Source: Xinhua, GDtoday, China Daily

Editor: Annie