A rail route linking the popular Lijiang and Shangri-La tourist spots in southwest China's Yunnan Province is expected to go into operation at the end of next year, said the China Railway Corporation on Monday.

The 139-kilometer Lijiang-Shangri-La line will link Kunming, capital of Yunnan Province, and Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, via the Kunming-Dali rail line. This will allow passengers to make round trips between Kunming and Shangri-La within one day.

The new line will serve as key route for tourists, and boost visitor numbers as there are many popular scenic spots along the railway, including Yulong Snow Mountain, Tiger Leaping Gorge and Haba Snow Mountain, said the corporation.

It's of great importance for the further development of the tourism industry in the northwestern Yunnan Province, said the corporation.

The route will feature 13 stations, and complex terrain along the route has called for the construction of 32 bridges and 20 tunnels.

The railway system in Yunnan has achieved great progress. On January 5, 2019, a high-speed railway linking Kunming and Lijiang began operation, bringing a boon for many tourists. Check out the top destinations you cannot miss on the new Yunnan railway. 

(With input from China Daily)

(Cover: A bullet train amidst the flower field. /VCG Photo)