China is well on its way to building a massive "Eight Vertical and Eight Horizontal" high-speed railway network. As one of the network's "vertical" routes, the Beijing-Guangzhou high-speed railway is the world's longest high-speed rail route. It stretches 2,298 kilometers in length, with a designed speed of 350 kilometers per hour, connecting the capital city in the north with the tourist city of Guangzhou in the south.
As China's week-long National Day holiday begins, the line is expected to play an important role in facilitating passenger travel and promoting economic development along the route.