China has opened four major high-speed railway sections, spanning northern, northwestern, central, and northeastern China, in time for the National Day holiday. The new lines are expected to boost tourism, especially during holidays, according to industry experts and local officials. The railway sections will bring residents of major cities closer to diverse cultural and natural destinations.
The new high-speed rail lines will link iconic attractions such as the Three Gorges Dam in central China's Hubei Province to the emerald forests of Yichun in the country's far northeast. The Yichang-Xingshan section will effectively link high-quality cultural and tourism resources, while the Harbin-Yichun section will create conditions for developing tourism and ecological resources along the routes.
According to Yuan Baohua, deputy director of the construction department of China State Railway Group Co., Ltd., the new lines will drive tourism development. The Xiong'an-Shangqiu section will further link historical and cultural tourism resources across Hebei, Shandong, and Henan provinces, driving short-haul cross-regional cultural tourism trips.
The new lines will significantly impact travel times between cities. The Xi'an-Ankang section has cut travel time between the two cities to just 45 minutes, allowing tourists from the Guanzhong Plain to make a round trip in a single day. This will enable spontaneous getaways at any time, according to Qu Xiaoyuan, a local cultural and tourism official in Ankang.
As the new lines draw passengers from a wider area, weekend and short-holiday tourists may increase significantly, driving demand for multi-purpose and experience-oriented tourism products. Tourist attractions will need to emphasize their unique features and focus on improving quality to avoid offering similar experiences.
China Railway expects a significant number of passenger trips during the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holiday period, which extends from Sept. 23 to Oct. 8. The company expects some 284 million passenger trips during this period, with a peak in railway passenger flow on Oct. 1.
The new high-speed rail lines are expected to help meet demand during the holiday travel rush. To sustain tourism growth, attractions will need to focus on providing high-quality experiences and services to turn first-time visitors into repeat visitors.
Key points
- The new high-speed rail lines will link iconic attractions and drive tourism development across China.
- The lines will significantly impact travel times between cities, enabling spontaneous getaways.
- China Railway expects 284 million passenger trips during the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holiday period.
