China's high-speed rail network is set to exceed 10,000 km in length as the government is planning to add 3,500 km more during 2012.

The railway ministry will lay 6,366 km of rail track this year, of which 3,500 km will be high-speed lines, China Daily reported Thursday.

Travel time between Beijing and Shenzhen, a key business hub in southern Guandong province, will be reduced from 23 hours to eight hours after the high-speed line between the two cities becomes operational.