A bullet train takes a trial ride on the Shanghai-Suzhou-Huzhou High-Speed Railway. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]

The Shanghai-Suzhou-Huzhou High-Speed Railway will begin operating on Dec 26, providing a new, faster route between Shanghai and Hangzhou. Passengers will be able to travel from Hangzhou West Station to Shanghai Hongqiao in just 78 minutes.

Spanning 164 kilometers, the railway connects Shanghai Hongqiao, Suzhou, and Huzhou, and has a design speed of 350 km per hour. It features eight stations, including Shanghai Hongqiao, Huzhou, and newly built stops like Suzhou South and Nanxun.

It will initially offer up to 38 daily high-speed trains, with the fastest journey from Shanghai Hongqiao to Huzhou taking 55 minutes—twice as fast as existing routes. Future plans aim to increase train services to 229 daily by early 2025.

Flexible ticket pricing and discounts will be offered to cater to varied travel needs, with detailed fares available on the 12306 platform.

A bird's-eye view of Hangzhou's Olympic New Town. [Photo/IC]