The line, 305 km (190 mi) in length and built in sections from 1911–1912, 1979–1980 and 1983–1985, serves as a major conduit for the shipment of coal from Shanxi Province.

Major cities and towns along route include Xinxiang, Heze, Jining and Yanzhou.

[1] The Yanzhou-Jining section, 32.18 km (20 mi) in length, was built from 1911 to 1912 as a branch off of the Jinpu railway.

[1] This section was demolished in 1944 by Japanese occupying forces during World War II and rebuilt in 1958.

[1] The Xinyan and the Yanzhou–Shijiusuo railway form a major conduit for the shipment of coal from Shanxi to the East China Sea.