In pics: part of Beijing-Shenyang high-speed rail starts operation

A steward of the first train running on the Shenyang-Chengde section of the Beijing-Harbin high-speed railway greets passengers in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, Dec. 29, 2018. China on Saturday opened a high-speed railway sector connecting Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province with Chengde, a popular summer resort about 230 km north of Beijing. The new sector belongs to the Beijing-Harbin high-speed rail route that extends 1,250 km from the country's northeasternmost provincial capital Harbin to Beijing. The day-long trip from Harbin to Beijing will be cut to within five hours after the route is launched. (Xinhua/Yang Baosen)