A new high-speed railway, starting from Guiyang in Southwest China’s Guizhou province to Guangzhou in Guangdong province, opened in December. This project however will not only upgrade railway networks in Guizhou, Guangdong and Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, but also boost tourism along the line.

The Guiyang-Guangzhou high-speed railway traverses through China’s South and Southwest areas known for ethnic groups and cultural hotspots.

That includes the Karst landform in Guizhou province, the vast Longli Grassland, as well as the famous Huangguoshu Waterfall, the biggest waterfall in China.

The ethnic areas of Guizhou and Guangxi are a great lure to both Chinese and foreign travelers, but poor accessibility has stopped many from visiting these areas.

Not any more. Besides the major stations at Guiyang, Guilin and Guangzhou, there are five small stations in the ethnic regions of Guizhou and Guangxi. This enables travellers to go to the mountainous regions to experience authentic Miao, Dong and Buyi cultures.

“There are a lot of ethnic villages in the hard-to-access mountainous areas. Thanks to the high speed railway, more and more people will now come and visit,” says a resident.

Another destination Yangshuo will benefit from the opening of the high speed railway.

“There was no railway station in Yangshuo before, people have to drive here or take a bus, that usually took four or five hours. But as the high speed railway opens, it only take less than two hours and makes the journey more comfortable,” says Chen Qingwu, deputy magistrate of Yangshuo County.

Guangxi’s Guilin is also a must-visit destination for many tourists. The city is known for its picturesque river and mountain scenery, mysterious caves and rocks. The Longji Terraced Rice Fields are another big draw.

Along the section of the rail line in Guangdong, there are the Seven Star Crags in Zhaoxing, the Sanshui lotus world in Foshan, tea gardens, and more.

To lure more tourists, Guizhou, Guangxi and Guangdong are now building an eco-tourism belt along the railway. Tourists taking the bullet train to these areas will enjoy lower prices at hotels and scenic spots.