China, September 2026 — Ningbo has opened the Ningbo-Xiangshan intracity rail line as part of efforts to strengthen integrated development between the coastal city and Xiangshan County in Zhejiang Province. The new connection provides rail access between the city proper and areas with industrial and tourism activity.
The line extends 61.45 kilometres and comprises 10 stations, including two underground and eight above-ground stations. Trains can operate at speeds of up to 160 kilometres per hour, providing a higher-speed connection between Ningbo and Xiangshan.
A defining feature of the infrastructure is its cross-sea section, which allows the railway to overcome the geographic separation between Ningbo and Xiangshan. The line is intended to improve connectivity for towns, industries and cultural tourism resources along the corridor while supporting wider intracity transport integration.
The project reflects China's broader approach to developing rail links that extend beyond conventional metropolitan boundaries. Rather than serving only dense urban districts, intracity rail corridors such as the Ningbo-Xiangshan line can connect peripheral communities and economic areas to established urban centres, supporting more integrated regional mobility.
The opening also highlights the increasing use of higher-speed urban rail systems to address connectivity across complex coastal geographies. For rail planners and infrastructure stakeholders, the project demonstrates how rail, stations and major bridge infrastructure can be combined to strengthen links between urban centres and surrounding development areas.
Source: The Star
Ningbo Opens Cross-Sea Urban Rail Link To Xiangshan
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China continues to expand integrated urban rail networks linking major cities with surrounding counties and economic areas. Ningbo has opened the 61.45-kilometre Ningbo-Xiangshan intracity line, connecting the city with Xiangshan County through a high-capacity rail corridor that includes a major cross-sea bridge.
