Construction of the new Beijing-Shenyang high-speed rail line entered its final phase on Sept 17 as the first tracks were laid on the Liaoning section of the project. Once complete, the line will cut travel times between Harbin and the capital almost in half.

The 377-kilometer line running through Liaoning province is the last section of the line to start construction, with work scheduled to be completed in 2019.

When the line opens, trains will cut through the countryside between Beijing and Shenyang at speeds of up to 350 kilometers per hour, halving journey times between the two cities to 2.5 hours.

This will also make traveling from the capital to Harbin much more convenient. Travel times between the two Northern Chinese metropolises will be cut from seven hours to just four hours.