The JiTong Railway's easternmost 170 km are fairly nondescript but at Fuxindi the character of the line changes as it takes to the hills and climbs for 20 km to the division point at Chabuga. After a loco change, trains continue climbing for another few km to the summit just before Xiaoxinglongdi station. This is attractive country with low hills surrounding the line as it winds its way across the landscape.

The next section to Yamenmiao crosses a gloriously wild prairie landscape where the QJs would fly along at speeds that seemed unimaginable to those who had only seen them slogging over Jingpeng Pass. Despite the relatively featureless terrain this was still a marvellous place to see big steam in action, particularly around sunrise and sunset.

The climb from Yamenmiao to Lindong has more than its fair share of good photographic locations. The line climbs most of the way and there are many excellent positions in the hills skirting the railway. Lindong was a waterstop for westbound trains in steam days and a good base for visitors.

Access to the 40 km section from Lindong through Dariqiga and Chaganhada was difficult for many years but a new road made things much easier during the last two years of steam working. Just as well as there were a number of good locations to photograph westbound trains as they climbed towards the summit beyond Chaganhada.

This is another undulating upland section but not as photogenic as Xiaoxinglongdi to Yamenmiao. However there were a number of excellent locations, particularly around Gulumanhan where westbound trains stopped for water.

Daban was one of two major depots on the JiTong Railway and serviced a large fleet of QJ class 2-10-2s from the line's opening at the end of 1995 until the completion of dieselisation in December 2005.

From Daban to Linxi the line climbs gently along a broad river valley surrounded by low hills. The scenery isn't spectacular but there are some pleasant locations to photograph westbound trains, particularly in the first few km from Daban and just west of Wenduheshuo.

The line gets closer to the mountains west of Linxi and the gradient steepens. There were a few pleasant locations on this section until just before the end of steam working when a new pole line wiped most of them out at a stroke.

Galadesitai marks the start of Jingpeng Pass. The mountains close in on both sides and the line swings across the valley on an impressive viaduct on the outskirts of Reshui. A few km further on at Sandi, the line executes a 180° turn, crossing the valley twice in quick succession before entering the station. There are several good spots on this section and it really comes into its own at sunrise and sunset when silhouette and glint possibilities abound.

After turning back towards the east at Sandi, the line continues to climb along the south side of the valley until it reaches the end of the ridge high above Reshui viaduct. It then swings round to the west again, clinging to the slopes high on the valley side and still climbing all the way to Liudigou. This is a really spectacular piece of railway with plenty of excellent locations. It wasn't the easiest section to photograph though as the incessant north-westerly wind had a habit of blowing the exhaust down on the wrong side.

West of Liudigou the line continues to climb along the valley side before reaching the head of the valley and plunging into the tunnel under Dabaliang, the local name for the summit of Jingpeng Pass. Once again, this section teems with good photo positions although many were dependent on the wind behaving itself.

This was a classic section of mountain railroad with steep gradients, a viaduct, three tunnels, bags of scenery and a huge variety of photo locations. The line twisted enough to ensure that there were always a number of good locations to choose from, whatever the time of day. Jingpeng Pass at its magnificent best.

West of Hadashan the character of the line changes as the valley widens and the line describes a giant S bend in order to lose height. This section includes the magnificent Simingyi Viaduct, the signature structure of the whole line as well as Tunnel 1, the longest on the line. Excellent photo positions were plentiful here as well.

Compared to the two previous sections, the railway from Xiakengzi to Jingpeng and on to Majiazi is fairly tame but there are still a significant number of good photo positions including a couple of impressive bridges. Jingpeng is at the foot of long steep climbs in both directions and was a hive of activity in steam days. Westbound trains made an extended stop to take water and clean fires as well as giving the crews a break. Eastbounds stopped for water.