China's new rail able to withstand extreme winter
中國新鐵路將能承受極端天氣

China witnessed the launch of its northernmost high-speed rail line on Monday. It runs between Qiqihar in Heilongjiang Province and its provincial capital Harbin. The 281 kilometer railway is designed for trains running at speeds of up to 250 kilometers per hour, cutting the travel time between the two cities to 85 minutes.

Workers overcame challenges of snow and frozen land, and topography that required scores of bridges, including a 3,460-meter-long bridge over the Songhua River. Train and railway lines are redesigned to operate during harsh winter, which could hit as low as minus 40 degree Celsius. It's even colder along the Songhua River.