Tourism on track as Hangzhou-Huangshan rail network develops

Plans are afoot to extend the newly-opened Hangzhou-Huangshan rail network after a feasibility report for the Chizhou-Huangshan railway project gained approval, according to China Railway Cooperation and People's Government of Anhui Province.

Located in East China's Anhui province, Chizhou is home to Jiuhua Mountain, one of the four sacred mountains of Chinese Buddhism.

Upon completion, the 145.2-kilometer Chizhou-Huangshan high-speed railway will connect with the Hangzhou-Huangshan line, threading through a number of 5A-level scenic spots, including West Lake, Qiandao Lake, Huangshan Mountain and Jiuhua Mountain, a further step to stimulate tourism in the country.

The new line will also enhance Huangshan's involvement in the Yangtze River Economic Belt and improve its pivotal role in Hangzhou metropolitan circle, an initiative for economic development and transportation infrastructure among five cities in Zhejiang province, said an official from Huangshan Development and Reform Commission.

With a designed speed of 350 kilometers per hour, the rail line will start construction by the end of this year.