The G55002 express train stops at Xinxiang East Station during a trial trip for journalists from Zhengzhou, capital of central China's Henan Province, Dec. 22, 2012.(Photo/Xinhua)

Two stewardesses tidy up uniforms for each other on an express train during a trial trip for journalists from Zhengzhou, capital of central China's Henan Province, Dec. 22, 2012.(Photo/Xinhua)

A stewardess provides service on G55002 express train during a trial trip for journalists from Zhengzhou, capital of central China's Henan Province, Dec. 22, 2012.(Photo/Xinhua)

Photo taken on Dec. 22, 2012 shows the waiting hall of Zhengzhou East Station, the junction station of Beijing-Guangzhou high speed railway in Zhengzhou, capital of central China's Henan Province.(Photo/Xinhua)

A stewardess heats food on G55002 express train during a trial trip for journalists from Zhengzhou, capital of central China's Henan Province, Dec. 22, 2012.(Photo/Xinhua)

A stewardess waits for passengers by the G55002 express train at Anyang East Station during a trial trip for journalists from Zhengzhou, capital of central China's Henan Province, Dec. 22, 2012.(Photo/Xinhua)

China is set to open the world's longest high-speed railway on Dec. 26, linking Beijing and the southern economic center of Guangzhou.

Running at an average speed of 300 km per hour, the 2,298-km Beijing-Guangzhou high-speed railway will cut travel time between the two cities to about 8 hours.

Designed with a maximum speed of 350 km per hour, the railway has 35 stops in major cities, including Shijiazhuang, capital of north China's Hebei Province, Zhengzhou, Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province and Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province.