On November 26, the Guangzhou-Zhanjiang High-Speed Railway entered its trial operation phase as a test train departed from Guangzhou Baiyun Station bound for Zhanjiang North.

According to the plan, the line is expected to be ready for official opening by the end of the year, reducing travel time between Guangzhou and Zhanjiang, located in southwestern Guangdong at the southernmost tip of the Chinese mainland, from more than 3 hours to about 1.5 hours.

The line stretches 401 kilometers with a design speed of 350 km/h, passing through Guangzhou, Foshan, Zhaoqing, Yunfu, Yangjiang, Maoming, and Zhanjiang. It links the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area with the Hainan Free Trade Port and the Beibu Gulf city cluster. The line includes 10 stations: Guangzhou Baiyun, Foshan, Fo-Zhao, Xinxing South, Yangchun East, Yangjiang North, Mata, Maoming South, Wuchuan, and Zhanjiang North.

The railway is known for its complex construction conditions, with challenging terrain and geological features along the route. Bridges and tunnels account for 76.8% of the line's total length, including 190 bridges, 50 tunnels, and 92.654 kilometers of roadbed.