North China's Shanxi province will build a comprehensive transportation hub – which is expected to generate far-reaching benefits and positive economic consequences – during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25). 

The construction of the hub includes one major international transportation hub in the provincial capital city of Taiyuan – as well as three sub-hubs in northern, southeastern and southwestern Shanxi, with the cities of Datong, Changzhi and Linfen at the core.

The city of Yangquan in eastern Shanxi will be developed as a link for the Taiyuan metropolitan area to connect with Bohai Sea Rim and East China. 

The prefecture-level city of Jincheng in the southeast of the province will develop into a regional hub for Shanxi facing the Central Plains, the Yangtze River Delta and the eastern developed regions in China. 

Yuncheng city in southern Shanxi will be a regional gateway for Shanxi, Shaanxi and Henan provinces in the Belt and Road Initiative.

Meanwhile, Lyuliang will develop into a regional comprehensive transportation hub that actively participates in the regional cooperation with Shaanxi and Gansu provinces and the Ningxia Hui autonomous region. 

Xinzhou will be a vital city for Shanxi in connecting with the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, Bohai Sea Rim, Xiongan New Area and Yellow River Bay. The prefecture-level city of Shuozhou will develop into a regional hub for the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, Russia and Mongolia. 

During the development of the commuter system in the Taiyuan metropolitan area, a passenger transport service network based on rail transit will be built in the area. Taiyuan city's urban rail transit service will be expanded to the neighboring city of Jinzhong and the launch of intercity trains between the two cities will be facilitated.