Dubbed as the most beauitiful railway in China, the railway linking Lijiang and Shangri-La in SW China’s Yunnan province will open by the end of 2019, which will link the two famous cities and boost tourism income for locals.

The main line of Lijiang-Shangri-La is 139 kilometers long with a total of 13 stations. Due to the complicated geology, some 32 new bridges and 20 tunnels had to be built, resulting in a bridge-tunnel ratio of 72.96%.

As an important part of Yunnan-Tibet railway, it will shorten the travel time between Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province, and Shangri-La, to a single day. Travelers to Shangri-La are relatively few compared to other cities. But upon operation of the railway, the number of tourists is expected to increase greatly, which will boost tourism and economic development in the area.

The railway crosses national-level scenic spots and nature reserves. To protect the local environment, workers must strictly dispose of waste in compliance with regulations during the construction phrase. In addition, various protective measures have been adopted, including beam protection and the planting grass and trees to minimize the impact of railway construction on the ecology.