Construction team members proudly pose for a photo after the completion of the tunnel. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]

The Chayeping Tunnel, the final tunnel of the Jinhua-Jiande High-Speed Railway, was completed on March 4 – and with the achievement, all 22 tunnels along the line were fully connected, bringing the project closer to completion.

Once operational, the railway will slash the travel time to just 15 minutes between Jiande, a county level city administered by Hangzhou – capital of East Chinas Zhejiang province – and Lanxi, a county level city administered by Jinhua city in the region.

The journey between Jinhua and Huangshan city – home to the picturesque Yellow Mountain in neighboring Anhui province, also in East China – will take only one hour.

Also known as the Golden Corridor, the Jinhua-Jiande Railway extends 64.51 kilometers from Jinhua Station, passing through Lanxi East and Dayang Station before merging into the Hangzhou-Huangshan High-Speed Railway, ultimately reaching Huangshan.

Designed for speeds of up to 250 km/h, the railway will greatly enhance regional connectivity.

Due to the mountainous terrain, tunnels and bridges make up a large part of the railway. The Chayeping Tunnel, one of the most challenging sections, spans 6,130 meters with a maximum depth of 330 meters.

To tackle complex geological conditions, engineers implemented advanced construction techniques, including simultaneous multi-point excavation and predictive geological monitoring, effectively improving efficiency and ensuring safety.

As a key link in China's high-speed rail network, the railway will connect major economic zones, including the Huangshan Tourism Economic Circle and the Wenzhou Economic Zone.

It will also integrate with four major railways – the Hefei-Fuzhou, Hangzhou-Huangshan, Shanghai-Kunming and Jinhua-Wenzhou lines – strengthening Zhejiang's transport network and boosting tourism along its scenic route.

The capacious interior of the tunnel. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]