A train carrying around 400 passengers departed Harbin for Jiamusi on Sept 24. The journey, on the new Harbin-Jiamusi express railway line, marks the first time that passengers have traveled on the new line, which has yet to commence operations.

The passengers were part of a special group celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival, which fell on Sept 24 this year.

The 340-kilometer-long line links Harbin, the provincial capital of Northeast China’s Heilongjiang province, with Jiamusi, also in Heilongjiang.

Built in a region where the temperature can be as low as minus 40 Celsius in winter, it is designed to allow trains to run at 200 kilometers per hour in severe weather conditions such as heavy rain, wind, snow and fog, cutting travel times to 110 minutes from around 360 minutes.

During the journey, performances including music and calligraphy demonstrations were staged to provide a festive atmosphere for passengers.

 A passenger poses for a photograph before boarding the Harbin-Jiamusi train at Harbin West Railway Station on Sept 24. [Photo/people.cn]

An attendant hangs Mid-autumn Festival decorations on the Harbin-Jiamusi train, Sept 24. [Photo/people.cn]

An attendant hands out brochures to passengers, Sept 24. [Photo/people.cn]