Chongqing- A Fuxing CR400AF train from Chongqing to Beijing departed at 7:32 on June 20, marking the official opening of the Zhengzhou-Chongqing high-speed railway.

With a total length of 1,068 km, the high-speed railway links Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality and Zhengzhou, the provincial capital city of Henan Province in the central region. "It is the first time for Chongqing's Yunyang, Fengjie and Wushan counties to have high-speed rail," said Li Kailan, director of the engineering department of Chongqing-Wanzhou Railway Co., Ltd. He said, "The Central Plains urban cluster, the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle, and the Yangtze River Economic Belt will be more closely connected now."

The engineers who built this line were invited to take the train and gave brief speeches on board. "We initiated the survey and design work in 2008 and always made protecting the environment the priority. For example, during the route selection. "The tunnel projects should be as far as possible from the Yangtze River," said Xiao Qiang, deputy chief engineer of the Chongqing branch of the China Railway Eryuan Engineering Group Co., Ltd.

Since the Xiangyang-Wanzhou section runs through the Three Gorges Reservoir area, which boasts rich natural resources like rivers, wetlands, and grasslands, the conservation of the ecological environment was prioritized in the construction process. In addition, a variety of measures were taken during the construction process to promote water and soil conservation. Xiao also added that sites where construction residue was dumped must be recultivated into orchards or arable land. This will reduce the environmental impact and create new agricultural businesses for local farmers.

The route connects various scenic spots as an essential part of the country's railway network. Experts believe that the Three Gorges area will see a boost in tourism due to the improved rail services.

Li Yi, a media practitioner from Wushan, feels confident the area will see more visitors in the future. "It took me one day to take a boat from Chaotianmen Port to Wushan in the past. Later, the Expressway opened, and the duration was shortened to 4-5 hours, but if there's a traffic jam, it will take more. I am pleased that I can now take the high-speed rail for only 2 hours to reach Wushan station."

She said her hometown's mountain and river views are well-known in the country, providing a perfect foundation for local tourism development. Now the transportation facilities have been improved, and she hopes more visitors can enjoy the scenic views in this area.