28th September 2023 – (Beijing) China has inaugurated its inaugural high-speed rail line that traverses ocean bays, skimming along the southeastern coast of Fujian province near the Taiwan Strait. The announcement was made by state media on Thursday, highlighting the country’s continuous advancements in its transportation infrastructure.
According to Xinhua, a bullet train departed from Fuzhou, the capital of Fujian province, on Thursday morning, marking the official opening of the 277km Fuzhou-Xiamen-Zhangzhou railway. This remarkable rail line, China’s first cross-sea high-speed route, incorporates bullet trains that will travel over bridges spanning three coastal bays and reach impressive speeds of up to 350km per hour. The project is spearheaded by China State Railway Group, the country’s railway operator.
The introduction of this high-speed rail line significantly reduces travel time between Fuzhou and Xiamen, a bustling economic hub and popular tourist destination, to less than an hour. This enhanced connectivity is expected to facilitate business and tourism activities, further boosting the economic and social development of the region.
The railway project was meticulously designed by China Railway Siyuan Survey and Design Group, adding to the extensive high-speed rail network throughout the country. As of 2022, China boasted an operational high-speed railway network spanning 42,000km, with a substantial portion operating at speeds of 350km per hour, encompassing approximately 3,200km as of June 2022.