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Now that China has opened its longest high-speed railway service, linking Beijing and Nanning, capital of the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, it is possible to travel 2,500 kilometers in about 13 hours by train. Here are four of the most famous historical cities along the route:

1. Shijiazhuang, capital of Hebei province

As a city, Shijiazhuang has prospered along with the building of modern railway system since the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). The most famous relic of the city is the Zhaozhou Bridge. The large stone bridge has been reinforced nine times and survived wars, floods and earthquakes during the past 1,400 years.