The line shortens travel time between Heze and Beijing to three hours, saving at least two hours for passengers, and enhances connectivity of the southern part of Shandong and the plains area of central China. It will promote regional economic and social development, the company said.

"It's impressive that it takes around three hours to get to Beijing from Heze," said Yang Xiuling, a paper-cutting expert Heze's Yuncheng county. Yang travels to Beijing frequently to participate in paper-cutting exhibitions.