Railway map shows links to Xiongan

Plans for railways linking the planned Xiongan New Area in Hebei province with neighboring Beijing and Tianjin were disclosed recently on a map of the region's railway links, marking the latest step in the new area's development.

Railway lines from Xiongan to Beijing and Tianjin were revealed, along with three other links, on a Tianjin railway planning map, according to a report in Tianjin News.

According to the report, the map shows two railway stations in the new area - Xiongan Railway Station and Xiongan East Railway Station.

The Beijing-Xiongan rail route will connect Xiongan New Area with Beijing's planned second airport, 55 kilometers to the north of Xiongan.

The Tianjin-Xiongan railway route will connect the area with Tianjin's new railway station, which is also in the planning stages.

Details of the railways in Xiongan were not given.

The coming Xiongan New Area, an economic zone announced about a month ago, is located at the center of a triangular area with Beijing, Tianjin, and Shijiazhuang, Hebei's capital, at the corners.

It covers Xiongxian, Rongcheng and Anxin counties in Hebei and will eventually span 2,000 square kilometers and has a population of up to 2.5 million.

With good road and rail access, Xiongan residents will be able to reach any of the three cities in about 30 minutes, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Under the area's development plan, a major transportation network should be in place in Xiongan by 2020. The area will be well connected to Beijing, Tianjin and other cities in Hebei by 2022, when the Winter Olympic Games are held, according to Xinhua.

Xiongan New Area is intended to house the bulk of Beijing's noncapital functions, including some administrative and public institutions, company headquarters, financial institutions, higher education institutions and sci-tech units.

Officials say that to enhance the area's attractiveness to top-level talent, it should develop with "people" being the core by improving public services, promoting social life and being equipped with superior resources in such areas as education and medical care, according to a China Central Television report on Tuesday.

"I personally think the resources at Xiongan will be superior to those currently available in Beijing and Tianjin," He Lifeng, head of the National Development and Reform Commission, said in the report.

Yuan Tongli, vice-governor of Hebei, said: "We need to take innovative steps to bring down housing prices and lift public services in the area." Only this will attract top talent, Yuan said.

zhangyu1@chinadaily.com.cn