16 mainland China stations will be added to West Kowloon High Speed Rail Line before Lunar New Year

Since the opening of the West Kowloon High Speed Rail station, travelling between mainland China and Hong Kong has become more convenient than ever. To accommodate for the increased amount of inbound and outbound travellers over the Lunar New Year holidays, 16 direct destinations will be added to the West Kowloon High Speed Rail Line before the Year of the Horse. This increase in direct high-speed train routes will likely attract more mainland tourists to visit Hong Kong during the holidays while allowing citizens to explore parts of China previously disconnected by rail with ease. 

The MTR Corporation announced in a press release on January 11 that it will be enhancing these High Speed Rail operations between cities in mainland China and Hong Kong in time for Lunar New Year, adding 16 direct-access destinations to the Hong Kong section of the railway network. Among these new connections are Nanjing, China’s ancient capital best known for its cultural tourism; Wuxi, the scenic Jiangnan destination near Suzhou; and Hefei, a laid-back locale with historic charm. 

Meanwhile, MTR will also increase the frequencies of the Shanghai Hongqiao sleeper train service departing from the West Kowloon terminus. From January 26, three round-trip trains will run to and from Shanghai Hongqiao Station daily, with intermediate stops at Hefeinan, Nahjingnan, and Wuxidong – previously, there were four high-speed trains running between Hong Kong and Shanghai each week. 

In addition, train services will be more frequent between Hong Kong and popular short- and medium-haul destinations. Round-trip trains between West Kowloon and Guangzhounan stations will be increased to 24 pairs per day, while trains terminating in Chao Shan, Xiamen, and Fuzhou stations will make additional stops along original routes, offering travellers more flexibility and freedom in their itineraries, with the West Kowloon-Fuzhou journey shortening by 20 minutes. One of the three pairs of trains running between West Kowloon and Xiamen stations will be extended to Fuzhou station, while the number of train pairs between Hong Kong and Shantou will increase to five per day. 

With such rail enhancements in place, local travellers can expect less stress planning for their upcoming Lunar New Year holidays if heading up to the mainland. Read more detailed information about the amended train schedules, as well as High Speed Rail fares. 

Hong Kong’s new direct-access destinations on the High Speed Rail

• Qingyuan
• Miluodong 
• Quanzhoudong
• Quanzhounan
• Huidong
• Huizhounan
• Fuzhounan
• Shantounan
• Huilai
• Lufendong
• Lufengnan
• Chaonan
• Xingningnan

Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Hong Kong newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox