Road, rail links to bring regions closer together

Zhang Yuxin, 24, a native of Shijiazhuang, graduated from the Tianjin University of Science and Technology in 2012 and found a good job in Tianjin.

However, she quit after four months and moved to Shijiazhuang to be near her family.

"It's not the best career choice," she said. "For a public relations associate, Tianjin offers more opportunities. In addition, many of my college friends are in Tianjin, so being there would expand my professional network.

"But my parents want me near them," she added. Commuting from Shijiazhuang to Tianjin takes at least four hours by train or freeway.

"If there's a high-speed train between Shijiazhuang and Tianjin, similar to the one between Beijing and Tianjin, I could take care of my career and my family at the same time," Zhang said.

Construction is just about to start on a high-speed railway connecting the national capital and cities in Hebei to the north of Beijing, such as Chengde and Zhangjiakou.

Xing Guohui, Party chief of Zhangjiakou, said the high-speed railway will take passengers from Beijing to Zhangjiakou in an hour, adding that the convenient transportation system could increase China's chances of getting the Olympic Games in the winter of 2022.

Beijing and Hebei signed an agreement in May 2013 listing major areas of cooperation for the subsequent two years, including the transfer of certain industries from the capital to the province.

The expansion of the high-speed rail network is a priority item on the agenda.

The high-speed railway has had a station at Shijiazhuang airport, the largest airport in Hebei, since 2013. That has allowed many Beijing-based travelers to use that airport.

The railway connects the airport to Beijing in 90 minutes. A second-class ticket costs 111 yuan ($18).

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