Bullet train tames Qinling Mountains

A new bullet train service linking Xi'an and Chengdu went into operation on Wednesday, reducing travel time between the two historic cities by almost two-thirds.

The 658-kilometer high-speed line is the first to pass through the Qinling Mountains, the dividing line between China's south and north, which boast a vast array of natural scenery and rare wildlife.

Thirty-eight trains will initially run along the railway, 19 each way, at speeds of up to 250 kilometers per hour, according to network operator China Railway Corp.