Quanzhou city in Fujian province will construct its first tram route in June this year.

The tram project, featuring environmental protection and low costs that are only one fourth of subway construction, will require an investment of 6.95 billion yuan and is expected to be finished in 2018. Powered by electricity, trams are rail vehicles that run on tracks along public streets.

The 40.8-km route, with 35 stops, will run from Quanzhou railway station to Jinjiang Airport, and then extend to Shishi Garment City.

The route will be built on streets' green belts or specific traffic lanes to ensure normal running of motor vehicles and non-motor vehicles.

The move is part of the city's wider goal to have 14 tram lines stretching 237.6 km and five rail lines with a total length of 195.6 kilometers to supplement the public transportation network, according to the Quanzhou Urban and Rural Planning Bureau.

Tram route [Photo/fjsen.com]