Gansu opens its first high-speed railway line

The bullet train D2703 Lanzhou- Urumqi made its maiden run at Lanzhou's west station on Dec 26th, making the first full operation of the Lanzhou-Urumqi high-speed railway. And to celebrate the first run, the Lanzhou attendants on the high-speed train performed a Dunhuang dance and other shows for the passengers.

Wang Dongwei (R) who bought the first ticket for Lanzhou- Urumqi is getting on the train. [Photo/ Xinhua.com]

The Lanzhou-Urumqi high-speed railway shortens the travel time from Lanzhou to Urumqi to 11 hours and 50 minutes, with its speed set to reach 250 kilometers per hour.

The railway started construction in Jan 2010, and it passes through three provinces: Qinghai province, Gansu province and the Xinjiang Uyghur autonomous region, with 21 stops starting from Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu province, via Gansu’s Zhangye, Jiuquan, and Jiayuguan, and Xining, the capital of Qinghai province, and Xinjiang’s Kumul, Turpan to Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang region, for a total of 1,776 km.

Attendants performing Dunhuang dance on D2703 bullet train. [Photo/ Xinhua.com]

Lanzhou-Urumqi high-speed railway, as China’s first high-speed railway built on a plateau and the longest high-speed railway in its western part, is expected to improve transportation between the two provinces and the Xinjiang region and boost tourism along it.

Attendants of the Lanzhou station on the high-speed train are ready for work. [Photo/ Xinhua.com]

By Li Xiaoxu and edited by Nicole Fortin