The 819 mile long Beijing-Shanghai high speed line opens in a week's time – on 1 July 2011.

The 186 mph service is expected to carry more than 200,000 passengers a day, with trains running every five minutes at some times of the day.

Construction began three years ago although the project was approved in principle 10 years before.

Part of the delay was caused by a debate over whether the line should use Maglev technology which was finally rejected in 2006.

Among other places, the line passes though Qufu, the birthplace of Confucius.

China Eastern Airlines is allowing passengers booking airline tickets to and from Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei and Hong Kong, to also book train tickets.

For a video news report from The China Daily, click here

For a video news report from Reuters, click here