High-speed rail to directly link Quzhou with Hangzhou

Construction on the high-speed rail from Quzhou to Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province, got underway on March 28 in Quzhou, Zhejiang, local media reported.

With a total investment of 23.63 billion yuan ($3.5 billion), the high-speed rail will extend 240 kilometers with a projected speed of 350 km/h and include six stations, namely, Jiande, South Jiande, North Longyou, Qujiang, West Quzhou, and Jiangshan.

The railway will boast picturesque views, passing by many renowned scenic spots, such as Qiantang River, Thousand-island Lake, Fuchun River, and Huangshan Mountain.

The high-speed rail is expected to reduce the ride distance between Quzhou and Hangzhou to 41 minutes from 75 minutes, marking Quzhou's entrance into the capital city's one-hour traffic circle.

Last October, Quzhou officially became part of the Hangzhou metropolitan circle, one of major six such circles in China.

Based on the cooperation in rail construction and other industrial projects, Quzhou and Hangzhou are bound to share information and cooperate in education, medical care and industrial upgrading in the near future.

The high-speed rail is scheduled to open to public before the Asian Games in 2022, which will be held in Hangzhou, and will become an important part of the intercity rapid transportation network in the Yangtze River Delta region.