China debuts Beijing–Shanghai High-Speed Railway

Operating speed 300 km/h (186 mph), and 250 km/h (155 mph)
Line length 1318 km (819 mi)
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) Standard gauge
Stations 24
Cost 220 billion yuan (about $32 billion)



The Beijing–Shanghai High-Speed Railway, or Jinghu High-Speed Railway from its Chinese name, is a 1,318-kilometre (819 mi) long high-speed railway that connects two major economic zones in the People's Republic of China:the Bohai Economic Rim and the Yangtze River Delta. Construction began on April 18, 2008, and a ceremony to mark the completion of track laying was held on November 15, 2010. The line opened to the public for commercial service on June 30, 2011.

This rail line is the world's longest high-speed line ever constructed in a single phase.
Under the former Minister of Railways, Liu Zhijun, the railway line was the first one designed for 380 km/h commercialrunning. The non-stop train from Beijing South to Shanghai Hongqiao was expected to finish the 1,305 km journey in 3 hours, 58 minutes, averaging 329 km/h, making it the fastest scheduled train in the world, compared to 9 hours, 49 minutes by the fastest trains running on the parallel old railway. However, in the wake of his dismissal in February 2011, it was announced that the railway would be slowed down to 300 km/h. At this speed, it would take 4 hours, 48 minutes for the journey, with one stop in Nanjing South.

China's Li Na makes history as first Asian grand-slam winner at 2011 French Open

China's Li Na beat last year's champion Francesca Schiavone in the French Open final to become the first Asian player to win a grand slam singles title.

Nabeat out the former champion 6-4 7-6 on Saturday to take home the championship.

Sixth seed Li, who lost the Australian Open final earlier this year, dominated Italian fifth seed Schiavone's in a confident display of power and accuracy.

"She deserved to win today," Schiavone says on the court. "One has to win, one has to lose. She deserves everything."

Li was beaming. "Of course I was nervous, but I didn't want to show opponent. I was a little bit cheating."

Li, who beat hard hitters Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova en route to the final, built her success on her lightning-quick backhand and precise serve as Schiavone never hit her stride on the red clay.

Li allowed Schiavone, who was hoping to break the pace with her sliced backhand, only five points on her serve in the opening set.

She snatched her opponent's serve in the first game of the second set and saved a break point with an ace as she opened a 2-0 lead, only for Schiavone to fight back.

Li, whose ranking will rise to a career-high No. 4 on Monday, has made the finals of the past two Grand Slams. But winning at Roland Garros was a far bigger surprise, since clay is her least-favorite surface.