303-km line connects major cities in Shandong

Travel times between three of Shandong province's major cities are set to be cut dramatically, as the province's first high-speed intercity railway began operation on Wednesday.

The 303-kilometer high-speed line connects coastal Qingdao, Yantai, Weihai and Rongcheng on the eastern Shandong Peninsula. Its construction started in October 2011 with an investment of 37 billion yuan ($5.5 billion).

According to Liu Qing, deputy director of Qingdao Railway Station, trains will travel at an average 250 km per hour, with a top speed of 300 km/h.