China breaks ground on high-speed rail that will cross permafrost

China's northernmost province of Heilongjiang broke ground on a high-speed railway that will cross permafrost regions in the city of Yichun, The Xinhua News Agency reported.

Construction of the Harbin-Yichun high-speed rail in the city of Yichun, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. Photo by Xinhua/Wang Junbao.

The Harbin-Yichun high-speed rail will total approximately 300 km with a designed speed of 250 km per hour.

Construction of the Harbin-Yichun high-speed rail in the city of Yichun, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. Photo by Xinhua/Wang Junbao.

"The railway will not only cross permafrost regions, but will also pass through primeval forests and water conservation areas. The environmental protection requirements are extremely high, and a number of technical problems need to be solved", – said Ma Guochen, project director with China Railway 22nd Bureau Group.

Construction of the Harbin-Yichun high-speed rail in the city of Yichun, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. Photo by Xinhua/Wang Junbao.