An aerial drone photo taken on June 28, 2026 shows a view of a tunnel of Xi'an-Shiyan high-speed railway in northwest China's Shaanxi Province. The Xi'an-Shiyan high-speed railway is set to enter operation on Tuesday, cutting the fastest travel time between Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, and Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, to 2 hours and 41 minutes. It connects major tourist attractions including the Qinling Mountains and Wudang Mountain, and its operation is expected to boost local tourism. (Xinhua/Shao Rui)
XI'AN, June 30 (Xinhua) -- A Fuxing bullet train pulled out of the newly opened Xi'an East Railway Station Tuesday morning, marking the launch of the Xi'an-Shiyan high-speed railway, a major new transport corridor linking central and western China.
The railway has a designed speed of up to 350 km per hour and a total length of 257 km. It connects Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, with Shiyan in neighboring Hubei Province in the country's central region.
The line connects to the existing Wuhan-Shiyan high-speed railway, cutting the travel time between Xi'an and Wuhan, capital of Hubei, to 2 hours 41 minutes, down from the previous 4.5-hour detour route. The trip between Xi'an and Shiyan has been slashed from over 6 hours on conventional trains to barely an hour.
Mao Lei, chief designer of the project, described the route as a railway running through a "natural geological museum" as the proportion of bridges and tunnels along the line exceeds 90 percent.
Experts believe the railway will strengthen economic ties between western, central and eastern China, while providing new momentum for development along the Yangtze River Economic Belt. ■
This photo taken on June 30, 2026 shows the first high-speed train of Xi'an-Shiyan high-speed railway at Shiyan East Railway Station in Shiyan City, central China's Hubei Province. The Xi'an-Shiyan high-speed railway was officially put into operation on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)
This photo taken on June 30, 2026 shows the Xi'an East Railway Station along the Xi'an-Shiyan high-speed railway in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. The Xi'an East Railway Station opened on Tuesday with the launch of the Xi'an-Shiyan high-speed railway.
The railway has a designed speed of up to 350 km per hour and a total length of 257 km. It connects Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, with Shiyan in neighboring Hubei Province in the country's central region. (Xinhua/Li Yibo)
Passengers pose for a photo at Shiyan East Railway Station in Shiyan City, central China's Hubei Province, June 30, 2026. The Xi'an-Shiyan high-speed railway was officially put into operation on Tuesday. The railway has a designed speed of up to 350 km per hour and a total length of 257 km. It connects Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, with Shiyan in neighboring Hubei Province in the country's central region.
The line connects to the existing Wuhan-Shiyan high-speed railway, cutting the travel time between Xi'an and Wuhan, capital of Hubei, to 2 hours 41 minutes, down from the previous 4.5-hour detour route. The trip between Xi'an and Shiyan has been slashed from over 6 hours on conventional trains to barely an hour. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)
Passengers board the first high-speed train of Xi'an-Shiyan high-speed railway at Shiyan East Railway Station in Shiyan City, central China's Hubei Province, June 30, 2026. The Xi'an-Shiyan high-speed railway was officially put into operation on Tuesday. The railway has a designed speed of up to 350 km per hour and a total length of 257 km. It connects Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, with Shiyan in neighboring Hubei Province in the country's central region.
The line connects to the existing Wuhan-Shiyan high-speed railway, cutting the travel time between Xi'an and Wuhan, capital of Hubei, to 2 hours 41 minutes, down from the previous 4.5-hour detour route. The trip between Xi'an and Shiyan has been slashed from over 6 hours on conventional trains to barely an hour. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)
This photo taken on June 30, 2026 shows the first high-speed train of Xi'an-Shiyan high-speed railway at Shiyan East Railway Station in Shiyan City, central China's Hubei Province. The Xi'an-Shiyan high-speed railway was officially put into operation on Tuesday. The railway has a designed speed of up to 350 km per hour and a total length of 257 km. It connects Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, with Shiyan in neighboring Hubei Province in the country's central region.
The line connects to the existing Wuhan-Shiyan high-speed railway, cutting the travel time between Xi'an and Wuhan, capital of Hubei, to 2 hours 41 minutes, down from the previous 4.5-hour detour route. The trip between Xi'an and Shiyan has been slashed from over 6 hours on conventional trains to barely an hour. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)
An aerial drone photo taken on June 27, 2026 shows Xi'an East Railway Station in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. The Xi'an-Shiyan high-speed railway is set to enter operation on Tuesday, cutting the fastest travel time between Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, and Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, to 2 hours and 41 minutes.
It connects major tourist attractions including the Qinling Mountains and Wudang Mountain, and its operation is expected to boost local tourism. (Xinhua/Shao Rui)
This photo taken on May 19, 2026 shows clay wall sculptures in Lantian County in Xi'an northwest China's Shaanxi Province. The Xi'an-Shiyan high-speed railway is set to enter operation on Tuesday, cutting the fastest travel time between Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, and Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, to 2 hours and 41 minutes.
It connects major tourist attractions including the Qinling Mountains and Wudang Mountain, and its operation is expected to boost local tourism. (Xinhua/Shao Rui)
An aerial drone photo taken on June 28, 2026 shows the Shangluo West Railway Station in Shangluo City, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. The Xi'an-Shiyan high-speed railway is set to enter operation on Tuesday, cutting the fastest travel time between Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, and Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, to 2 hours and 41 minutes.
It connects major tourist attractions including the Qinling Mountains and Wudang Mountain, and its operation is expected to boost local tourism. (Xinhua/Shao Rui)
An aerial drone photo taken on June 28, 2026 shows the Shanyang Railway Station in Shangluo City, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. The Xi'an-Shiyan high-speed railway is set to enter operation on Tuesday, cutting the fastest travel time between Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, and Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, to 2 hours and 41 minutes.
It connects major tourist attractions including the Qinling Mountains and Wudang Mountain, and its operation is expected to boost local tourism. (Xinhua/Shao Rui)
An aerial drone photo taken on June 28, 2026 shows Yunxi Railway Station in Shiyan City, central China's Hubei Province. The Xi'an-Shiyan high-speed railway is set to enter operation on Tuesday, cutting the fastest travel time between Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, and Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, to 2 hours and 41 minutes.
It connects major tourist attractions including the Qinling Mountains and Wudang Mountain, and its operation is expected to boost local tourism. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)
An aerial drone photo taken on June 27, 2026 shows the Lantian Railway Station in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. The Xi'an-Shiyan high-speed railway is set to enter operation on Tuesday, cutting the fastest travel time between Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, and Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, to 2 hours and 41 minutes.
It connects major tourist attractions including the Qinling Mountains and Wudang Mountain, and its operation is expected to boost local tourism. (Xinhua/Shao Rui)
An aerial drone photo taken on May 5, 2026 shows a view of Qinling Mountains in Lantian County in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. The Xi'an-Shiyan high-speed railway is set to enter operation on Tuesday, cutting the fastest travel time between Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, and Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, to 2 hours and 41 minutes.
It connects major tourist attractions including the Qinling Mountains and Wudang Mountain, and its operation is expected to boost local tourism. (Xinhua/Shao Rui)
An aerial drone photo taken on June 28, 2026 shows a view of Yunyang District of Shiyan City, central China's Hubei Province. The Xi'an-Shiyan high-speed railway is set to enter operation on Tuesday, cutting the fastest travel time between Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, and Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, to 2 hours and 41 minutes.
It connects major tourist attractions including the Qinling Mountains and Wudang Mountain, and its operation is expected to boost local tourism. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)
An aerial drone photo taken on June 28, 2026 shows a train pulling out of Shiyan East Railway Station in central China's Hubei Province. The Xi'an-Shiyan high-speed railway is set to enter operation on Tuesday, cutting the fastest travel time between Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, and Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, to 2 hours and 41 minutes.
It connects major tourist attractions including the Qinling Mountains and Wudang Mountain, and its operation is expected to boost local tourism. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)
An aerial drone photo taken on June 28, 2026 shows the Manchuanguan Railway Station in Shangluo City, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. The Xi'an-Shiyan high-speed railway is set to enter operation on Tuesday, cutting the fastest travel time between Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, and Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, to 2 hours and 41 minutes.
It connects major tourist attractions including the Qinling Mountains and Wudang Mountain, and its operation is expected to boost local tourism. (Xinhua/Shao Rui)
An aerial drone photo taken on June 28, 2026 shows a train running on Shending River Bridige of Xi'an-Shiyan high-speed railway in central China's Hubei Province. The Xi'an-Shiyan high-speed railway is set to enter operation on Tuesday, cutting the fastest travel time between Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, and Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, to 2 hours and 41 minutes.
It connects major tourist attractions including the Qinling Mountains and Wudang Mountain, and its operation is expected to boost local tourism. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)
An aerial drone photo taken on June 27, 2026 shows a Taoist temple on Wudang Mountain in Shiyan City, central China's Hubei Province. The Xi'an-Shiyan high-speed railway is set to enter operation on Tuesday, cutting the fastest travel time between Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, and Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, to 2 hours and 41 minutes.
It connects major tourist attractions including the Qinling Mountains and Wudang Mountain, and its operation is expected to boost local tourism. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)
An aerial drone photo taken on June 28, 2026 shows a Hanjiang River grand bridge along the Xi'an-Shiyan high-speed railway in Shiyan City, central China's Hubei Province. The Xi'an-Shiyan high-speed railway is set to enter operation on Tuesday, cutting the fastest travel time between Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, and Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, to 2 hours and 41 minutes.
It connects major tourist attractions including the Qinling Mountains and Wudang Mountain, and its operation is expected to boost local tourism. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)
Visitors view mineral samples from Qinling Mountains at Qinling Museum in Shangluo City, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, May 19, 2026. The Xi'an-Shiyan high-speed railway is set to enter operation on Tuesday, cutting the fastest travel time between Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, and Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, to 2 hours and 41 minutes.
It connects major tourist attractions including the Qinling Mountains and Wudang Mountain, and its operation is expected to boost local tourism. (Xinhua/Shao Rui)
