An aerial drone photo taken on Dec. 24, 2025 shows Tongchuan Railway Station of a high-speed railway line connecting Xi'an with Yan'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province. China's Xi'an-Yan'an high-speed railway line in Shaanxi Province will start operation this Friday. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

BEIJING, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- A 299-kilometer high-speed railway linking the cities of Xi'an and Yan'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province is set to commence operations on Dec. 26, China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. announced on Wednesday.

This is the first high-speed railway in the old revolutionary base area of northern Shaanxi, and its milestone launch will inject new momentum into high-quality economic and social development in the region, according to the company.

The Xi'an-Yan'an high-speed railway is designed to handle speeds of up to 350 kilometers per hour and is set to reduce travel time between the two cities to just 68 minutes.

Initially, rail authorities will operate up to 38 trains each day, the company said, noting that the high-speed service will significantly improve the convenience of travel and support rural revitalization in the old revolutionary base area.

Yan'an holds profound historical significance, having served as the base of the Communist Party of China leadership between 1937 and 1947. ■

A test train is pictured at Tongchuan Railway Station of a high-speed railway line connecting Xi'an with Yan'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province. China's Xi'an-Yan'an high-speed railway line in Shaanxi Province will start operation this Friday.

It will be the first high-speed railway in northern Shaanxi's old revolutionary base area, injecting new momentum to regional development. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

An aerial drone photo taken on Dec. 24, 2025 shows Tongchuan Railway Station of a high-speed railway line connecting Xi'an with Yan'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province. China's Xi'an-Yan'an high-speed railway line in Shaanxi Province will start operation this Friday.

It will be the first high-speed railway in northern Shaanxi's old revolutionary base area, injecting new momentum to regional development. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

An aerial drone photo taken on Dec. 24, 2025 shows Fuping South Railway Station of a high-speed railway line connecting Xi'an with Yan'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province. China's Xi'an-Yan'an high-speed railway line in Shaanxi Province will start operation this Friday.

It will be the first high-speed railway in northern Shaanxi's old revolutionary base area, injecting new momentum to regional development. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

An aerial drone photo taken on Dec. 24, 2025 shows Fuping South Railway Station of a high-speed railway line connecting Xi'an with Yan'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province. China's Xi'an-Yan'an high-speed railway line in Shaanxi Province will start operation this Friday.

It will be the first high-speed railway in northern Shaanxi's old revolutionary base area, injecting new momentum to regional development. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

An aerial drone photo taken on Dec. 24, 2025 shows a section of a high-speed railway line connecting Xi'an with Yan'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province. China's Xi'an-Yan'an high-speed railway line in Shaanxi Province will start operation this Friday.

It will be the first high-speed railway in northern Shaanxi's old revolutionary base area, injecting new momentum to regional development. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)