Rail action from above: A bullet train moves at full speed in the region. [Photo/IC]
China has broken ground on the Wenzhou-Fuzhou High-Speed Railway, a project set to reshape travel and regional integration along the southeast coast, local media outlets reported.
The 302-kilometer line, with a design speed of 350 km per hour, will cost 73.45 billion yuan ($10.32 billion).
In East China, it will run from the county-level city of Yueqing, administered by Wenzhou city in Zhejiang province, through to Ningde city in Fujian province, before reaching Fujian's capital of Fuzhou.
Once completed, it will cut the Wenzhou-Fuzhou travel time to just one hour, half the current journey.
As an integral part of the national transportation network, the Wenzhou-Fuzhou High-Speed Railway is more than a regional link.
It connects the Yangtze River Delta and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, two of China's world-class city clusters, creating a vital segment of the coastal high-speed corridor.
For Wenzhou, the line marks a shift from being a southern gateway to a central hub. The new Wenzhou East Station, integrated with Wenzhou Longwan International Airport, will form the city's first air-rail hub, enhancing both passenger mobility and regional influence.
Beyond cities, the railway is expected to spur economic cooperation — linking Fuzhou's digital economy, Ningde's battery industry and Wenzhou's thriving private sector. It will also boost tourism, connecting scenic sites from Yandang Mountain to Fujian's historic Three Lanes and Seven Alleys scenic area.
Strategically, the railway strengthens China's east coast rail artery, shortening Hangzhou city to Shenzhen city travel to six hours. Experts say it will accelerate integration between the Yangtze River Delta region and the Greater Bay Area — supporting innovation, industry and talent flows across regions.
