Yangzhou's Slender West Lake is a fine example of a traditional Chinese garden. SI XINLI/FOR CHINA DAILY

Thanks to a new Yangtze River crossing, the charms of Yangzhou are now easily accessible by high-speed rail, Wang Ying reports from Shanghai.

Following the opening of the Shanghai-Suzhou-Nantong Yangtze River Bridge, traveling among cities in the Yangtze River Delta region has become easier than ever.

The 15 billion yuan ($2.16 billion) bridge, which took more than six years to build, began operations in July. It accommodates cars on its upper deck and trains on the lower one.

The bridge is especially important for cities such as Yangzhou and Taizhou, which previously had no direct train connections with Shanghai. Now Shanghai residents like me can visit these two cities with greater ease.