A high-speed rail linking Beijing and Zhangjiakou, China's co-bidding city for the 2022 Winter Olympics, will be constructed starting this year, according to a Beijing Youth Daily report.
The 174-kilometer-long inter-city express will have nine stations. From around three hours, the railway could cut the travel time between the two cities to only 50 minutes.
Apart from the shorter travel time advantage, the government's long-term goal also covers the promotion of tourist spots along the proposed railway path.
The scenic spots include the Tsinghua University, the Badaling section of the Great Wall, the Guanting Reservoir, Xuanhua, and the Old Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway.
Setting off from the capital city's North Railway Station, the Tsinghua University is the express' first station.
The university is one of the premiere academic institutions of China. Its roster of alumni includes some of today's biggest names in the fields of politics and science and technology, with president Xi Jinping on the lead.
With more than a hundred century of existence, the university's architectural design lauds a variety of ancient-style buildings, making it a sight to see for locals and tourists.
Meanwhile, the Great Wall's Badaling section built in 1504 is regarded as the most visited area of the man-made structure. This station is considered as the most difficult part of the Beijing-Zhangjiakou railway project.
Guanting Reservoir, on the other hand, is the first large reservoir constructed after the establishment of the People's Republic of China. Located in the Hebei Province, home to the Zhangjiakou city, the reservoir is the main water source of the co-bidding city.
The Xuanhua district of the province is also included in the project as it is rich with historic and cultural heritage. These include several century-old tourist spots such as the bell and drum towers and the Lihuasi Pagoda.
The old Beijing-Zhangjiakou express also has its own historical value as it serves as a reminder of the Jingzhang railway line. Linking the two cities, this is China's first self-invested and self-designed rail line.
The inter-city express project is expected to be finished in a span of four and a half years.