In the coming years, Anhui's residents will have the chance to travel conveniently within the province by taking 13 inter-city rail lines, centered on Hefei.

Anhui's provincial Development and Reform Commission announced recently that the railway network plan which is on its 2nd round of investigations, is awaiting the approval of the National Development and Reform Commission. Once approved, the plan will be implemented step by step.

The basic framework is to construct 13 inter-city rail lines covering 11 cities in Anhui with Hefei as their center, including Wuhu, Ma'anshan, Tongling, Anqing, Chizhou, Chuzhou, Xuancheng, Lu'an, Huainan, Bengbu.

The areas affected include eight cities: Hefei, Wuhu, Ma'anshan, Tongling, Anqing, Chizhou, Chuzhou, and Xuancheng, together with Jin’an district, and Shucheng county in Lu'an – a total of 59 counties, cities and districts.

There are two phrases for the 13 intercity rail lines construction. The short-term construction period, due for completion by 2020 and the long-term construction period is due by 2030. During the short-term period, seven lines will be constructed, with a total length of 412 kilometers, and a total investment of 51.74 billion yuan ($82.7 billion).

Step-by-step plan:

Short-term construction period (2020)

1. Hefei - Xinqiao International Airport - Luan

2. Hefei - Anqing – Jiujiang

3. Hefei - Chuzhou – Nanjing

4. Nanling - Fanchang - Wuhu - Jiangbei Zone

5. Lujiang - Chaohu –Chaohu - Hanshan – Hanshan- Ma'anshan

6. Chizhou – Jiujiang 7. Bozhou - Bengbu - Chuzhou - Nanjing Section

Long-term construction period (2030)

1. Hefei - Wuhu - Wuxuan Airport - Xuancheng - Ningguo

2. Bozhou - Bengbu - Chuzhou

3. Tianzhu Mountain - Anqing - Jiuhua Mountain - Anqing – Huangshan Mountain

4. Tianchang - Chuzhou – Tianchang - Lai'an - Chuzhou - Quanjiao

5. Huai'an – Tianchang - Nanjing

6. Susong - Dongzhi - Jingxian – Xuancheng

7. Lujiang – Chaohu

8. Ma'anshan – Lukou airport - Zhenjiang - Yangzhou

Highlights:

1. Catch a plane by taking a train

Rail line: Hefei - Xinqiao International Airport - Lu'an

With a length of 103 km and an investment of 19.14 billion yuan, this line is expected to become the province's first inter-city rail line on the agenda. Upon completion, residents of Huainan, Bengbu can take trains to Xinqiao Airport.

2. One hour to Anqing from Hefei

Rail line: Hefei - Anqing - Jiujiang

This line will use the national rail's segment in Anhui with a length of 305 km. Upon completion, it will take only one hour to travel to Anhui from Hefei, and a few hours more to go to the Pearl River Delta.

3. Go to Nanjing like taking a bus

Rail line: Hefei - Chuzhou - Nanjing

The lines cover 134 km, of which 127 km is planned for construction during the short-term period.

4. Three famous Mountains in one go

Rail line: Tianzhu Mountain - Anqing - Jiuhua Mountain – Huangshan Mountain - Jinhua

Tianzhu Mountain - Anqing – Huangshan Mountain section will be implemented initially with a length of 180 km and an estimated investment of 17.28 billion yuan. After the completion of the whole line, it will connect three famous mountain scenic spots.