Trains will depart from Guangzhou South Station

The China Ministry of Railways announced today the longest high-speed rail line in the world, stretching from Guangzhou all the way to Beijing, is set to open for passenger service on December 26.

So what does that mean? Well, you can now take the train – with leg room, 3G access, and a dining car – to Beijing, or opt for the traditional flight, which will be faster but have none of those other conveniences.  The train will speed along the 2,298-kilometre line at 300 km/hr, getting you to your destination in as little as 8 hours.  By comparison, a flight takes roughly 3 hours.

Bloomberg picks it up from here:

“The service marks a significant milestone of our high- speed rail construction,” the ministry said in the statement. “It will ease pressure on the rail transport between Beijing and Guangzhou, especially during the peak Chinese New Year holiday.”

Guangzhou, China Southern’s home city, is in the Pearl River Delta region, one of the nation’s major manufacturing centers. It’s less than 200 kilometers northwest of Hong Kong.

No prices for the new rail line have been announced yet.  It should be noted those boarding in Shenzhen will also be able to connect through Guangzhou en route to Beijing, which will take an extra 30 minutes or so.

Bloomberg also said if you opt for a flight between the two cities, you’ll have the chance to try out the new Airbus A380s starting next year.