Operation of a newly built railway line connecting Guangzhou, Guangdong province, with Shanwei, in the province's eastern area, began on Tuesday.

In Shanwei, the new line connects to several other railway lines that run to Fujian and Zhejiang provinces.

With eight stations along the route, the new line will play a significant role in promoting economic and social integration between the Pearl River Delta and Yangtze River Delta regions, two of the country's economic powerhouses, according to operators.

The high-speed line is designed to operate at a speed of 350 kilometers per hour, helping reduce the travel time between Guangzhou and Shanwei from the current 140 minutes to around 70 minutes, according to China Railway Guangzhou Group.

A high-speed train departs from Guangzhou, Guangdong province, on Tuesday morning, heading east for the coastal city of Shanwei. [Photos provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

"The opening will help promote the transfer of industries from the core area of the Pearl River Delta to cities along the line, accelerating the improvement of the industrial shortcomings of the area," said Jin Yibing, a high-speed railway economic researcher and associate professor at the Guangdong Railway Party School.

Shanwei, Huizhou and other cities along the line, are expected to become popular tourist destinations and attract a large number of visitors, Jin said.

Tickets for the new railway line went up for sale on Sunday. As of Monday afternoon, the railway department had sold 182,000 tickets.

A high-speed train departs from Guangzhou, Guangdong province, on Tuesday morning, heading east for the coastal city of Shanwei. [Photos provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A high-speed train departs from Guangzhou, Guangdong province, on Tuesday morning, heading east for the coastal city of Shanwei. [Photos provided to chinadaily.com.cn]