The Baoji-Lanzhou High-Speed Railway (HSR) officially started operations on Sunday, marking the completion of the Xuzhou-Lanzhou HSR, an important part of China's four horizontal and four vertical national railway network.

This also lays a foundation for the expected eight horizontal and eight vertical HSR network.

The railway, which spans 401km at a speed limit of 250km/h, links Baoji City in northwest China's Shaanxi Province and Lanzhou in the neighboring northwest Gansu Province. 

The first train G2028 left Lanzhou West Railway Station at 8:16 in the morning and will arrive at Baoji at 10:31, significantly reducing travel time from seven hours to about two hours.