A new high-speed railway linking the Chinese border city of Pingxiang in South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region with Vietnam will open on Friday, cutting travel time and strengthening connectivity across the southwestern region, the national railway operator China State Railway Group said on Wednesday.

The 81-kilometer line, connecting Pingxiang and Chongzuo in Guangxi, integrates with the railway between Chongzuo and Nanning, the capital city of Guangxi. Once the new line opens, travel time between Nanning and Pingxiang will be reduced to just 1 hour and 15 minutes from over 4 hours.

According to the company, the new line establishes a rapid passenger corridor from Guangxi's capital city to the China–Vietnam border, significantly strengthening regional connectivity. It is an important component of China's efforts to enhance connectivity with neighboring nations.

The line will operate at a maximum speed of 250 kilometers per hour and run four pairs of high-speed trains daily in the initial phase, shortening the fastest journey time between Nanning and Pingxiang by 178 minutes compared to current regular-speed services. A flexible, market-based pricing system will offer passengers more options.

By linking with the national high-speed rail network through the Nanning hub, the opening of the line brings high-speed rail services for the first time to Pingxiang, Ningming and Longzhou. It will greatly improve regional mobility, support high-quality development in border areas, and enhance connectivity in the China–ASEAN Free Trade Area, the company said.