A new direct high-speed rail service between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the picturesque city of Qingyuan in Guangdong province will commence on Jan 26, marking the first direct train connecting both cities.

The new service is part of a nationwide quarterly railway schedule adjustment that will cut travel time between the SAR and Qingyuan to under an hour and a half, eliminating the need for transfers via cities like Shenzhen or Guangzhou.

Two trains will run daily on the route. The southbound service, G6113, will depart Qingyuan at 9:22 am after a brief stop, having arrived from Changsha South Station in Hunan province. It will also stop at Guangzhou South, Nansha North and Shenzhen North stations before arriving at Hong Kong’s West Kowloon at 10:51 am, completing the journey in one hour and 29 minutes.

The northbound service, G6114, will leave Hong Kong West Kowloon at 5:16 pm, stopping at Shenzhen North and Guangzhou South, and arrive at Qingyuan at 6:34 pm, with a total travel time of one hour and 18 minutes.

Second-class tickets are priced at 253 yuan ($36.28) for the journey to Hong Kong, and 257 yuan for the trip to Qingyuan.

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Qingyuan, nestled in the heart of Guangdong, is a popular tourist destination known for its natural beauty and cultural sites. Attractions include the rafting and glass skywalk in Gulong Gorge (古龙峡), the safari park at Qingyuan Chimelong Resort (清远长隆森林王国), the karst landscape in the Yingxifenglin (英西峰林) scenic area and the Millennium Yaozhai (千年瑶寨) — a 1,400-year-old Yao ethnic village.

The city is also celebrated for its cuisine, particularly Qingyuan chicken, which is prized for its tender texture and golden-brown skin.

Tickets for the new service can be purchased on the official 12306 platform and app.