Hong Kong is preparing to flip the script on weekend getaways and cross border commuting, with the launch of a new high speed rail connection to the Guangdong interior city of Qingyuan on January 26, 2026. The direct service, departing from Hong Kong West Kowloon Station and arriving at Qingyuan in under an hour and a half, is being hailed by transport planners and tourism executives as a pivotal link that could reshape how residents and visitors experience southern China.

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The new Hong Kong Qingyuan route is the first direct high speed rail service linking the city with this fast developing destination on the upper reaches of the Beijiang River. Under the latest nationwide quarterly rail timetable adjustment, a pair of trains designated G6113 and G6114 will run daily between Qingyuan Station and Hong Kong West Kowloon Station, eliminating the need for passengers to change trains in Guangzhou or Shenzhen.

The southbound G6113 service will depart Qingyuan at 9:22 a.m. and arrive in Hong Kong at 10:51 a.m., covering the journey in 1 hour and 29 minutes. In the opposite direction, G6114 will leave West Kowloon at 5:16 p.m. and reach Qingyuan at 6:34 p.m., trimming the northbound trip to just 1 hour and 18 minutes. The trains run on the busy Guangzhou Shenzhen Hong Kong high speed rail corridor, stopping at Guangzhou South and Shenzhen North before crossing the boundary into Hong Kong.

The direct link essentially plugs Qingyuan into Hong Kong’s cross boundary rail hub, which has seen record ridership since the full resumption and expansion of mainland services. For Hong Kong residents, the schedule positions Qingyuan as an easy overnight or two day escape. For mainland visitors, it offers a seamless connection from Qingyuan into Hong Kong’s urban core and international flight network.

Faster Travel Times and Competitive Fares

Previously, travelers moving between Hong Kong and Qingyuan typically relied on a mix of intercity trains, coach services, or private transfers, often involving a change of trains in Guangzhou and journey times of well over two hours, not counting transfer buffers. The new direct service cuts that to less than ninety minutes and removes the hassle of managing connections at major interchange stations.

According to fare information released with the new schedule, the second class ticket between Qingyuan and Hong Kong is set in the mid range for cross boundary services, reflecting the roughly 300 kilometer distance covered and the multiple stops en route. For mainland travelers, the price point positions Hong Kong as a practical weekend or shopping destination. For Hong Kong residents, it makes Qingyuan a realistic alternative to long standing favorites such as Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Zhuhai.

The timetable is also designed to encourage day trips in one direction and overnight stays in the other. Morning departures from Qingyuan allow ample time for meetings, shopping, and sightseeing in Hong Kong before the evening return. Likewise, an afternoon departure from West Kowloon gives Hong Kong based travelers enough time to check into a Qingyuan hotel, visit a local hot spring, or enjoy a riverside dinner after arrival.

Part of a Major Expansion of Hong Kong’s High Speed Rail Network

The Qingyuan service does not stand alone. It is one element of a broader expansion of Hong Kong’s high speed rail connectivity to the mainland, with 16 new destinations being added to the timetable from January 26. With these additions, the number of mainland stations directly accessible from Hong Kong West Kowloon will climb to 110, extending the city’s reach deep into the Yangtze River Delta and across much of eastern and southern China.

New stops in Guangdong include emerging and tourism oriented cities such as Qingyuan, Huizhou South, Huidong, Shantou South, Huilai, Lufeng East, Lufeng South, Chaonan, and Xingning South. Beyond the province, Hong Kong is gaining new direct services to key cities like Nanjing and Wuxi, as well as enhanced services to Hefei and other regional hubs. This expansion is accompanied by more frequent trains on core routes, including additional daily pairs between Hong Kong and Guangzhou South, and an upgrade of the sleeper service to Shanghai Hongqiao to daily departures.

The MTR Corporation, which operates the Hong Kong section of the high speed rail, has framed the new timetable as a response to sustained demand. Passenger numbers on the cross border line surpassed 30 million trips in 2025, a record since the service opened in 2018, with the operator reporting a steady rise in the proportion of Hong Kong residents using the line for both business and leisure. The addition of Qingyuan and other secondary cities reflects a shift from purely business travel toward short haul tourism and weekend leisure flows.

Qingyuan Positions Itself as Southern China’s Next Eco Escape

For Qingyuan, a city historically overshadowed by Guangzhou to the south, the launch of the direct Hong Kong link is a strategic moment. The city has long marketed itself as an eco tourism and adventure destination, with a landscape of karst peaks, rivers, forests, and hot spring resorts within easy reach of the Pearl River Delta. Now, it is effectively within commuting distance of Hong Kong, opening up a large new market of potential visitors who can arrive in time for lunch and a river rafting excursion the same afternoon.

Local tourism authorities have promoted attractions such as Feilai Lake wetland park, rafting on the Beijiang and other rivers, glass bridges and cliff walks in surrounding mountain areas, and a growing cluster of hot spring hotels. The opening of the Qingyuan Maglev Tourist Line in early 2025 added another layer to the city’s appeal, connecting the mainline railway network to the Qingyuan Chimelong resort area via a medium speed maglev line that links Yinzhan station with the theme park complex.

The new high speed service creates an intermodal chain that did not exist before. A traveler can board a train in Hong Kong, arrive in Qingyuan in under 90 minutes, transfer to the maglev line, and be at the gates of a major theme park or resort within a short additional ride. Local planners argue that this integrated rail to resort corridor will underpin Qingyuan’s ambition to become a marquee weekend escape for families across the Greater Bay Area.

Greater Bay Area Integration Moves Beyond the Big Three Cities

The Hong Kong Qingyuan high speed connection is also emblematic of a wider regional shift. Since the launch of the Guangzhou Shenzhen Hong Kong high speed railway, much of the focus has been on building a one hour living circle between Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou, the three core megacities of the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area. The new timetable shows that this circle is widening to include a tier of hinterland cities that were once considered peripheral.

By adding Qingyuan to the network of direct destinations, Hong Kong is extending its functional reach into northern Guangdong. The move could accelerate the flow of visitors, talent, and investment into a region that offers more affordable land and a different lifestyle compared with the dense urban centers on the Pearl River estuary. For Hong Kong based companies in tourism, hospitality, and outdoor recreation, Qingyuan now becomes an accessible canvas for regional products and partnerships.

Officials and experts have frequently described high speed rail as the backbone of physical integration within the Greater Bay Area. As more destinations come within a one to two hour travel radius of Hong Kong, the distinction between cross border and domestic travel may blur for many residents. The Qingyuan route, with its combination of reasonable distance, clear tourism offerings, and daily frequency, is likely to serve as a test case of how far travelers are willing to stretch their definition of a weekend trip.

What the New Route Means for Travelers

For passengers in Hong Kong, the new Qingyuan trains expand an already dense menu of mainland destinations reachable without changing trains. Booking is handled through established cross boundary ticketing channels, and the requirements for travel documents remain the same as for other high speed services, with travelers needing valid permits and endorsements for entry into mainland China. The fixed daily departure times simplify planning for those building weekend itineraries or coordinating group travel.

Travel agents in Hong Kong expect to bundle Qingyuan into new package offerings that pair city experiences with nature and resort stays. A typical two night itinerary could now combine shopping and dining in Hong Kong, a high speed train ride to Qingyuan, rafting or hiking in local scenic areas, a night at a hot spring resort, and a relaxed return to Hong Kong on the following evening train. Transport times are short enough that such itineraries can be marketed to both local residents and overseas visitors using Hong Kong as a base.

For mainland travelers starting in Qingyuan, the new service brings West Kowloon’s transport connections within easy reach. West Kowloon Station is adjacent to major shopping districts, cultural venues, and the Airport Express line, making it straightforward to continue on to Hong Kong International Airport or other urban districts. Tourism operators in Qingyuan are likely to promote Hong Kong city breaks as a complement to inbound resort stays, especially as the region looks to recover and grow international tourism.

Economic and Tourism Ripple Effects

Transport analysts say the Qingyuan link will have knock on benefits well beyond the immediate flow of passengers. Improved access tends to raise the visibility of a destination, prompting new investment in hotels, attractions, and supporting infrastructure. For Qingyuan, which has already seen substantial investment in resort and theme park developments, the direct connection to Hong Kong may accelerate projects targeted at higher spending visitors.

In Hong Kong, the expanded destination map strengthens the city’s role as both a gateway to China and a hub within the Greater Bay Area itself. With more mainland cities directly reachable by high speed rail, Hong Kong based tour operators can design multi stop itineraries that thread together urban experiences, historical cities, and natural landscapes, all within a few hours’ travel. The result is a more compelling proposition for long haul visitors who want to see more of southern China without committing to domestic flights.

There are also potential gains for business travel. While Qingyuan is best known for tourism, it is also part of a manufacturing and logistics belt extending north from Guangzhou. Enhanced rail connectivity could make it easier for Hong Kong based firms to manage supply chains, meet partners, or explore investment opportunities in the region. The presence of a reliable, fast rail option reduces the perceived distance and time cost of doing business in inland Guangdong.

A Glimpse of How Rail Is Redrawing the Map of Short Haul Travel

Within just a few years, high speed rail has turned Hong Kong’s concept of proximity on its head. Cities that once felt remote are now a short train ride away, and itineraries that previously required overnight coaches or indirect connections have been compressed into manageable weekend trips. The new direct service to Qingyuan illustrates this shift in concrete terms, placing a river and mountain city with adventure tourism credentials within easy reach of one of Asia’s busiest financial and aviation hubs.

As the broader expansion of Hong Kong’s high speed rail network takes effect from January 26, the Qingyuan route will be closely watched. Its performance could influence future decisions about adding more secondary destinations or increasing frequencies. For travelers, it offers something even more immediate: a new frontier of accessible experiences, from glass bridges and rafting rapids to hot springs and emerging theme parks, all just a high speed train ride away.

For now, what is clear is that the rail link is more than a new line on a network map. It is a tangible example of how infrastructure can change travel habits, alter regional perceptions, and create new stories to tell about both Hong Kong and its mainland neighbors. As the first passengers step off the inaugural trains later this month, they will be helping to define what cross boundary travel in the Greater Bay Area looks like in the years ahead.