The Guangzhou-Zhanjiang High-Speed Railway (Guang-Zhan HSR) will open on December 22nd. The travel time from Guangzhou Baiyun Railway Station to Zhanjiangbei Railway Station will be shortened to as little as 1 hour and 32 minutes, significantly reducing the travel time between the Beibu Gulf urban cluster and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). This will provide strong support for high-quality regional economic and social development.

The Guang-Zhan HSR connects cities including Guangzhou, Foshan, Yunfu, Yangjiang, Maoming, and Zhanjiang, with a total length of 401 kilometers and a designed speed of 350 kilometers per hour. The railway traverses the Pearl River, Beijiang River, and Xijiang River, and passes under the Zhanjiang Bay. Its construction faced substantial challenges due to the complex geological conditions, characterized by widespread karst formations, soft soils, and expansive soils (rock). 

Since the start of construction, China State Railway Group has organized all participating units to integrate green development concepts throughout the planning, design, and construction processes. Through intensified research efforts, along with strengthened safety, quality, and environmental controls, key projects such as the Pearl River Four-Line Grand Bridge and the Zhanjiang Bay Undersea Tunnel were completed, laying a solid foundation for the railway's operation.

The travel time from Guangzhou Baiyun to Zhanjiangbei and Maoming South will be reduced to as little as 1 hour and 32 minutes and 1 hour and 20 minutes, respectively. The fastest journey time between Guangzhou and Zhanjiang has been shortened by 61 minutes. This efficient commuting duration will help cities in western Guangdong, such as Maoming and Zhanjiang, integrate deeply into the GBA's "one-hour living circle." To meet diverse travel needs, railway authorities will implement flexible discounts and differentiated market-based pricing mechanism on the Guang-Zhan HSR, offering passengers more options for their journeys.

广湛高铁将于12月22日建成通车

广州至湛江高铁（以下简称广湛高铁）将于12月22日建成通车，广州白云站至湛江北站最快1小时32分可达，北部湾城市群与粤港澳大湾区时空距离大幅压缩，为区域经济社会高质量发展提供有力支撑。

广湛高铁连接广州、佛山、云浮、阳江、茂名、湛江等地市，线路全长401公里，设计时速350公里。广湛高铁穿越珠江、北江、西江并下穿湛江湾，岩溶、软土、膨胀土（岩）分布广，地质条件复杂，施工难度较大。广湛高铁自开工建设以来，国铁集团组织各参建单位把绿色发展理念贯穿铁路规划、设计、建设全过程，加大科研攻关力度，强化安全、质量和环保控制，建成了珠江四线特大桥等桥梁工程和湛江湾铁路海底隧道等隧道工程，为项目开通运营打下了坚实基础。

广州白云至湛江北、茂名南最快分别1小时32分、1小时20分可达，广州至湛江最快运营时间压缩61分钟。这一高效通勤时效，助力茂名、湛江等粤西城市深度融入大湾区“一小时生活圈”。为满足旅客不同出行需求，铁路部门在广湛高铁实施灵活折扣、差异化的市场化票价机制，为旅客出行提供更多选择。

文、图丨记者 严锦程
译丨黄宇洁
英文审校丨肖凯欣