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Dali-Lijiang Railway opens to traffic

By Li Yingqing and Guo Anfei (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-09-28 21:32

Dali-Lijiang Railway Opened to traffic on September 28, 2009, a keystone railway project in southwest China's Yunnan Province. The journey time between Dali and Lijiang will be shortened from four hours by bus to less than an hour and a half by train.

The Dali-Lijiang railway extends162.4 km and has a designed train speed of 120 km per hour. There are 13 train stations along the line, including Dali, Heqing, Renhe and Lijiang. The Railway started to construct in December 2004. Many technical obstacles were tackled during its construction.

Guangtong-Dali Railway Line starts from Guangtong and links with Chengdu-Kunming railway and national highway network. The Guangtong-Dali line, which is 206 kilometers in full length, has played an inestimable role in developing the natural, tourist and mineral resources in west Yunnan and bringing along local economic development.

Dali-Lijiang Railway is located in the northern part of Yunnan Province, which is relatively poor. The railway is designed to promote sustainable economic growth by constructing 162.4 km of railway line from Dali to Lijiang.

“This will be achieved by providing affordable railway transportation in the less developed areas to create conditions necessary for developing local resources and generating employment and income enhancing opportunities,” Said Mr Wang, a bus driver in Dali.

A tourist from Italy, Steven, said, “I will go by train from Dali to Lijiang.” Along the Dali-Lijiang railway there are rich tourist and cultural resources such as the ancient city of Dali, Cangshan Mountain, Erhai Sea and the ancient city of Lijiang.