High-speed rail opens between Guiyang and Libo

The Fuxing D6167, the first train operated along the Guiyang-Libo segment of the Guiyang-Nanning High-speed Railway, departs from Guiyang. [Photo/Guiyang news network]

The Fuxing D6167 train debuted in Guiyang, capital of Southwest China's Guizhou province, on Aug 8 and headed to Libo in Qiannan Bouyei and Miao autonomous prefecture.

It departed from Guiyang North Station at 6:21 am and arrived at Libo Railway Station at 7:40 am. The travel time between Guiyang and Libo, which used to take four hours, now takes just one.

The operation of the train marks the official opening of the Guiyang-Libo segment of the Guiyang-Nanning High-speed Railway. It also marks the 67th anniversary of the establishment of Qiannan.

Guizhou's first high-speed railway opened to traffic on Dec 26, 2014. By the end of 2022, the total operational length of high-speed railways in Guizhou exceeded 1,600 kilometers.

With the opening of the Guiyang-Libo high-speed railway segment, Dushan and Libo counties are now included in Guizhou's high-speed railway network, which totals nearly 1,800 kilometers. This placed Guizhou at the forefront of West China's 12 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, and in the second tier across the country.

The Guiyang-Nanning High-speed Railway is an important part of China's high-speed railway network, connecting Baotou to Haikou. The newly built railway has a total length of 482 km and is designed for a speed of 350 km per hour.

The Guiyang-Libo high-speed railway segment spans over 200 km, including a new section from Longli North Railway Station to Libo Railway Station, with a length of 175 km.

There are five stations along the segment: Longli North, Guiding county, Duyun East, Dushan East, and Libo. The first three stations have undergone renovations and expansions, while the latter two were recently built.

The Guiyang-Libo high-speed railway segment traverses the Guizhou Plateau and Miaoling Mountains, crossing multiple rivers such as the Qingshui River, Chengjiang River, and Hongshui River.

Along the segment are dozens of nationally recognized tourist attractions such as Jiaxiu Pavilion, Qingyan Ancient Town, and Libo Xiaoqikong Scenic Area. The segment is expected to promote the optimization and upgrading of the tourism industry in Guiyang and Qiannan, aid in rural vitalization, and promote Libo to the world.