China has recently opened several new high-speed rail lines, significantly reducing travel times and boosting tourism across the country. The lines connect Xiong'an in Hebei Province with Shangqiu in Henan Province, Xi'an with Ankang in Shaanxi Province, Yichang with Xingshan in Hubei Province, and Harbin with Yichun in Heilongjiang Province. These new lines officially entered service on September 28, just in time for the National Day holiday.
The new high-speed rail line from Xiong'an to Shangqiu has greatly benefited Liu Zengyuan, a railway engineer who helped build the line. He can now travel from his workplace in Renqiu, Hebei, to his hometown of Heze in Shandong Province in just two hours, a significant reduction from the previous four or five hours. This line has also enabled residents like Wang to easily visit Hengshui Lake, a national nature reserve in Hebei Province, with the journey taking less than two hours.
The National Day holiday, which took place from October 1 to October 7, saw a significant increase in tourism along the new rail routes. Hengshui Lake received 715,000 visitors during the holiday, a 202.84 percent increase year on year. The new line has also brought new vitality to Ankang, a mountainous city in southern Shaanxi, with its rich ecological resources. The city's Ankang West Station handled 50,800 outgoing passengers during the holiday, exceeding expectations.
The new high-speed rail lines have not only reduced travel times but also created new opportunities for tourism and economic growth. Qu Xiaoyuan, an Ankang cultural and tourism official, noted that the line has cut travel time between Xi'an and Ankang from three hours to just 45 minutes. The city has also launched shuttle services linking the station with major scenic spots, which saw a 40 percent increase in visits year on year.
The Yichang-Xingshan line has also had a significant impact on tourism, bringing destinations like Chongqing and Wuhan within two hours of Xingshan. Xingshan Station handled 14,216 outgoing passengers during the holiday, a 54.61 percent increase year on year. Local businesses have used high-speed rail tickets to link hotel discounts and reduce or scrap scenic spot admission fees, further boosting tourism.
The northernmost high-speed railway in China, connecting Harbin with Yichun, has also transformed travel in the region. The line cuts railway travel time between the two cities from about seven hours to roughly two hours, making it easier for tourists to visit Yichun. Wang Wei, director of the Yichun Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism, believes the new railway will bring Yichun into Harbin's "two-hour economic circle," creating new opportunities for winter tourism and forest study tours.
China's high-speed rail network is expected to continue growing, with plans to reach 70,000 km by 2035. Ma Botao, of the China Railway Economic Planning and Research Institute, noted that cities newly connected to the railway network must position themselves to seize the opportunities brought by the new lines. The network is expected to connect major cities, city clusters, and key economic zones across the country, driving economic growth and development.
Key points
- The new high-speed rail lines have significantly reduced travel times and boosted tourism across China.
- The lines have created new opportunities for economic growth and development in the regions they connect.
- China's high-speed rail network is expected to reach 70,000 km by 2035, connecting major cities and economic zones across the country.
