Two direct high-speed trains started running between Qingdao in East China's Shandong province and Beijing after the new national railway operating plan was implemented on April 10.

The direct trains shorten the travelling time between the two cities to two hours and 58 minutes, 49 minutes less than previous services.

The two trains are the G205 and G206 Fuxing high-speed bullet trains. The G205 train, departing from Beijing South Railway Station at 5:55 pm every day, arrives at Qingdao North Railway Station at 8:53 pm, while the G206 train leaves from Qingdao at 7:20 pm and arrives at Beijing at 10:18 pm.

Second class seats cost 336 yuan ($48.70) while first class ones cost 550 yuan.

Meanwhile, the G175 train, which used to run between Beijing and Qingdao on weekends, is now operating every day.

A Fuxing high-speed bullet train leaves Beijing South Railway Station for Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station during a trial run in Beijing on July 24, 2017. [Photo/IC]