New arteries connect nation's east and west

China's high-speed rail network, the world's largest, has seen several important lines open this year, as well as the introduction of new-generation bullet trains.

In July, a high-speed railway linking Baoji in northwestern Shaanxi province with Lanzhou, capital of neighboring Gansu province, was put into operation. The new route connects Northwest China to the national high-speed rail network.

In December, the first high-speed line to pass through the Qinling Mountains — the dividing line between China's south and north — went into operation, connecting the two historic cities of Xi'an and Chengdu.

Moreover, China's new generation bullet train Fuxing (rejuvenation), over which China has complete intellectual property rights, started running between Beijing and Shanghai in July.