Weifang-Yantai high-speed railway serves 3.25m passengers in 1st year

The train passes by Fushan Station on the Weifang-Yantai high-speed railway. [Photo/VCG]

The Weifang-Yantai high-speed railway, a key section of China's national "eight vertical and eight horizontal" high-speed rail network, has transported 3.25 million passengers since its launch one year ago, drastically cutting travel times and boosting regional connectivity.

Operating at speeds of 350 kilometers per hour, the railway has reduced the journey from Weifangbei to Laizhou to just 24 minutes — down from nearly two hours by car. Daily passenger arrivals and departures have averaged 19,000, with total trips reaching 6.9 million. 

Service frequency has also increased, expanding from 10 to 17 train pairs per day since January 2025, including new direct routes to major cities such as Beijing, Zhengzhou, and Chengdu. 

Tourism has surged along the line, with over 40 scenic spots in Yantai offering discounts to HSR passengers. Popular destinations like Penglai and Laizhou reported visitor increases of over 40 percent.

Local residents have benefited significantly. "It used to take five or six hours to Jinan by bus. Now it's only two," said Zhang Yawen, a commuter. "The railway has changed our lives."

As a core link in Shandong's rail network, the Weifang-Yantai line continues to drive economic integration and cultural exchange across the peninsula.