Datong-Xi'an high-speed railway almost ready for tourists

The Datong-Xi’an high-speed railway will open on July 1, the Taiyuan Railway Administration said.

With the new passenger railway opening, the travel time from Datong in Shanxi province to Xi’an, the capital city of Shaanxi province, will be shortened from 16 hours to three. And it will only take two hours from Taiyuan, the capital city of Shanxi province, to Xi’an.

With a length of 859 kilometers and 24 stations, the railway line has a designed speed of 250 km/h.

There are many scenic spots and historic sites along the line, such as the Yungang Grottoes, the Ancient City of Pingyao and the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor.

The Yungang Grottoes are ancient Chinese Buddhist temple grottoes near the city of Datong in Shanxi province. As typical examples of rock-cut architecture, they are widely known as one of the most famous ancient Buddhist sculptural sites in China.

With a history of 2,700 years, Pingyao is considered one of the best preserved ancient cities in the world. Renowned for its well-preserved city walls, it is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and major tourist attraction in central Shanxi.

Another UNESCO World Heritage Site along the line is the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor. Located in Lintong District, Xi'an, Shaanxi province, it is the largest ancient military museum in China. To the east of the tomb mound is the Terracotta Army serving as a garrison to the mausoleum.

The main stops along the line are Datong, Taiyuan, Jinzhong, Yuncheng, Xinzhou in Shanxi and Weinan in Shaanxi. Information on a final timetable and ticket sales will be released by Shanxi railway departments.