The arrival of a new high-speed railway line to the scenic lakeside town of Qiandaohu in East China's Zhejiang province has changed the lives of its residents immeasurably

I sat quietly in my seat on the new Fuxing bullet train on the first day of February, looking out of the window and watching the views outside flash by in an instant.

I passed by the boundless plains of northern China, with its endless farmlands and rows of trees, starkly lifeless save for a few nests lying amid the bare branches. Then came the silvery landscapes of Jiangsu province shining after a fresh fall of snow.

The train continued its dash toward the south. Dense cities and rolling hills with green trees took turns to make an appearance.

As the train began to approach its destination of my hometown of Qiandaohu in East China's Zhejiang province, I could hear more people talking in our local accent.