New high-speed railway connects Hong Kong, Chengdu

Passengers are seen on the high-speed train G2963 on July 1, 2023. The train started on Saturday morning from Chengdu, the capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, heading for Hong Kong. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)

CHENGDU, July 1 (Xinhua) -- A train started on Saturday morning from Chengdu, the capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, heading for Hong Kong.

It marked the opening of a direct high-speed train service between Chengdu and Hong Kong.

The train left Chengdu at 8:48 a.m. and arrived in Hong Kong after about ten hours, passing ten other stops, including the scenic tourist city of Guilin and Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong Province.

China's railways implement a new operating plan starting Saturday to improve passenger and cargo transport capacity, service quality, and operation efficiency. The high-speed railway route from Chengdu to Shenzhen extends to the West Kowloon Station.

Saturday marks the 26th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland.

Mao Ping, a 46-year-old passenger from the Mianyang City of Sichuan, was excited to be on board the train. She told Xinhua that after learning about the opening of the new route from news reports, she talked to family and friends and planned this trip to Hong Kong.

"After staying in Hong Kong for several days, I will also return by train," she said. "I can have morning tea in Hong Kong and a hotpot later in Chengdu for supper."

The service will further boost people-to-people exchanges and economic cooperation between the two destinations and enhance the co-development of Chengdu with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, according to the China Railway Chengdu Bureau Group Co., Ltd.

Railway police officers are on duty in Chengdu east railway station in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 1, 2023. (Xinhua/Xing Tuo)

A passenger shows an e-ticket of the high-speed train G2963 in Leshan Station, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 1, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)

Passengers take photos on the high-speed train G2963 on July 1, 2023. The train started on Saturday morning from Chengdu, the capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, heading for Hong Kong. (Xinhua/Xing Tuo)

Passengers board the high-speed train G2963 in Leshan railway station in Leshan, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 1, 2023. The train started on Saturday morning from Chengdu, the capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, heading for Hong Kong. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)

The high-speed train G2963 waits for departure in Chengdu east railway station in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 1, 2023. The train started on Saturday morning from Chengdu, the capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, heading for Hong Kong. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)

Passengers are seen on the high-speed train G2963 on July 1, 2023. The train started on Saturday morning from Chengdu, the capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, heading for Hong Kong. (Xinhua/Xing Tuo)

Passengers and staff members of the high-speed train G2963 pose for a photo in Chengdu east railway station in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 1, 2023. The train started on Saturday morning from Chengdu, the capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, heading for Hong Kong. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)

Passengers watch a performance on the high-speed train G2963 on July 1, 2023. The train started on Saturday morning from Chengdu, the capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, heading for Hong Kong. (Xinhua/Xing Tuo)

Train attendants of the high-speed train G2963 pose for a photo in Chengdu east railway station in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 1, 2023. The train started on Saturday morning from Chengdu, the capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, heading for Hong Kong. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)

A railway police officer guides a passenger of the high-speed train G2963 in Chengdu east railway station in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 1, 2023. The train started on Saturday morning from Chengdu, the capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, heading for Hong Kong. (Xinhua/Xing Tuo)

A train attendant waits for passengers of the high-speed train G2963 in Chengdu east railway station in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 1, 2023. The train started on Saturday morning from Chengdu, the capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, heading for Hong Kong. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)

Passengers of the high-speed train G2963 pose for a photo in Chengdu east railway station in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 1, 2023. The train started on Saturday morning from Chengdu, the capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, heading for Hong Kong. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)