The railway line starts from Rizhao West Railway Station and ends at Lankao South Railway Station, linking cities like Rizhao, Linyi, Jining, Heze, Shangqiu and Kaifeng, which prominently shortens the travel time between the major cities in Shandong and Henan provinces.

Train attendants pose for a photo at Heze East Railway Station in Heze City, east China’s Shandong Province, July 18, 2024. The section from Zhuangzhai in east China’s Shandong Province to Lankao in central China’s Henan Province was put into service on Thursday, marking the full operation of the 472-kilometer-long Rizhao-Lankao high-speed railway. (Xinhua/Guo Xulei)

A staff member helps a child board the bullet train G4007 from Heze to Zhengzhou at Heze East Railway Station in Heze City, east China’s Shandong Province, July 18, 2024. The section from Zhuangzhai in east China’s Shandong Province to Lankao in central China’s Henan Province was put into service on Thursday, marking the full operation of the 472-kilometer-long Rizhao-Lankao high-speed railway. (Xinhua/Guo Xulei)

Passengers pose for a photo on bullet train G4007 from Heze to Zhengzhou, July 18, 2024. The section from Zhuangzhai in east China’s Shandong Province to Lankao in central China’s Henan Province was put into service on Thursday, marking the full operation of the 472-kilometer-long Rizhao-Lankao high-speed railway.

The bullet train G4007 from Heze to Zhengzhou departs from Heze East Railway Station in Heze City, east China’s Shandong Province, July 18, 2024. The section from Zhuangzhai in east China’s Shandong Province to Lankao in central China’s Henan Province was put into service on Thursday, marking the full operation of the 472-kilometer-long Rizhao-Lankao high-speed railway. (Xinhua/Guo Xulei)