The first train of the Weifang-Yantai high-speed railway arrives at Laizhou Station on Oct 21. [Photo/VCG]

The Weifang-Yantai high-speed railway commenced operations on the morning of Oct 21 with the departure of the first train from Laizhou Station.

This new line marks the 13th high-speed rail route in Shandong province, pushing the total operational high-speed rail mileage in the province to over 3,000 kilometers, ranking first in China.

Spanning 237 kilometers, the Weifang-Yantai high-speed railway is a key part of China's "eight vertical and eight horizontal" high-speed railway network, passing through Qingdao, Yantai, and Weifang.

The opening of this railway not only ends the historical lack of high-speed rail access in Yantai's county-level cities such as Longkou, Zhaoyuan, and Laizhou but also propels Yantai into a new era of comprehensive high-speed rail connectivity. Yantai residents can now reach Jinan in just two hours, making travel much more convenient.

At Fushan Station, a passenger takes a selfie in front of the first train of the Weifang-Yantai high-speed railway. [Photo/VCG]

"I have traveled by boat and plane, but am yet to experience high-speed rail," said Yantai resident Wang Lili, who is planning to take the train to Weifang with her 80-year-old mother. She expressed excitement at the long-awaited opening of the Weifang-Yantai high-speed railway.

Qingdao-based railway ticket collector and enthusiast Chen Tianhao purchased seven tickets at once. "I got the first ticket for Laizhou Station, 'A001'!" he said excitedly.

The new railway will play a pivotal role in accelerating the flow of people, goods, capital, and information along the line.

It is expected to strengthen exchanges between the Jiaodong Peninsula and the provincial capital of Jinan, as well as the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Yangtze River Delta, and the central and western regions, driving high-quality economic and social development.