Starting from Jan 5, China's national railway network will implement its train schedule for the first quarter of 2025. The G828/G825 high-speed train running from Xi'an North Railway Station to Shenzhen North Railway Station will be extended to Hong Kong West Kowloon Station.

A night view of the Bell Tower in Xi'an. [Photo/IC]

Departing Xi'an North Railway Station at 11:05 am, the train will pass through stations such as Huashan North, Luoyang Longmen, Zhengzhou, Wuhan, Changsha South, Guangzhou South, and Shenzhen North, arriving in Hong Kong West Kowloon at 9:09 pm the same day.

Covering over 2,200 kilometers, the journey will take approximately 10 hours, enabling Xi'an residents to travel to Hong Kong directly without transfers.

This service comes after Xi'an was included in China's individual visit scheme to Hong Kong and Macao in March. Xi'an residents can now easily apply for personal or group travel endorsements at local immigration service centers.

Hong Kong's Victoria Harbor at sunset. [Photo/WeChat account of Xi'an Release]

Both Xi'an and Hong Kong are renowned for their cultural and tourist appeal. Xi'an offers rich historical treasures such as the Terracotta Warriors, while Hong Kong boasts stunning modern cityscapes and vibrant cultural fusion.

Travelers on this route can also indulge in a culinary adventure, sampling local delicacies from various provinces along the way: start your day with a bowl of Xi'an's hearty, spicy soup and end it with a comforting bowl of Hong Kong-style congee.

This new connection symbolizes a deeper cultural and economic exchange between these two dynamic locations.