China's rail aspirations continue to expand with its latest project - a high-speed train line spanning 277 kilometers (172 miles) along the southeastern coast. This railway will link the cities of Zhangzhou, Xiamen, and Fuzhou, all located in the Fujian province.
According to China Railway, the state railway operator, trains on this route can reach a maximum speed of 350 kilometers (218 miles) per hour. The inaugural train on this line began its journey on Thursday, September 28, departing from Fuzhou, the capital of the province, at 9:15 a.m. This new railway boasts 84 bridges, 29 tunnels, and 20 km (12 miles) of track that spans over the sea, making it the first over-water bullet train in the country.
China Railway utilized intelligent robots and eco-friendly corrosion-resistant steel to construct the overwater rail segments.
The introduction of the new line is part of the Chinese government's efforts in 2016 to improve infrastructure, particularly through the implementation of the "Eight Horizontal and Eight Vertical" rail initiative. According to Xinhua, a state-run media outlet, the rugged terrain in Fujian province has posed difficulties for ground transportation.
Additionally, Fujian province holds significance as it is geographically closest to the self-governing island of Taiwan. Xiamen, situated just 10 km (or 2 and a half miles) away from Kinmen, the westernmost region of Taiwan, is particularly noteworthy.
China's Communist Party of China asserts that Taiwan is its own territory, although it has never governed it. As per Xinhua, the party recently issued a circular advocating for the improvement of connectivity and integration between Fujian and Taiwan.
Earlier this year, a group of eight local government councilors in Kinmen put forward a contentious proposal to construct a physical and symbolic bridge over the strait. Their plan aims to transform Kinmen into a "peace island," effectively establishing a demilitarized zone (DMZ) between Taiwan and China.