Alliance to boost regional coordinated development in YRD

A Hangzhou-Huangshan high-speed railway strategic alliance was launched in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on April 19, aiming to integrate tourism resources and promote coordinated economic development in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region.

As the first of its kind in China, the alliance marks another step forward in exchange and cooperation between Hangzhou and Huangshan.

The 265-kilometer line, linking Zhejiang's capital Hangzhou with Huangshan in Anhui province, opened to traffic on Dec 25, 2018.

It shortens the travel time between the two cities from 3 hours to just 90 minutes and links seven national 5A scenic areas in Zhejiang and Anhui, such as Huangshan Mountain, West Lake and Qiandao Lake.

"The establishment of the Hangzhou-Huangshan high-speed railway alliance will not only advance tourism development in cities along the route, but also exert a positive influence on industrial development and talent exchange in the YRD region," said Cheng Tao, deputy director of Huangshan Economic Development Zone at the signing ceremony.

The number of visitors taking the Hangzhou-Huangshan line will increase, according to Ma Hong, vice head of Hangzhou Station, adding that 146 million tourists are expected to be received during the upcoming Labor Day holiday in the YRD region.

A total of 16.5 million tourists have travelled on the newly-opened Hangzhou-Huangshan high-speed rail line since its inauguration