China’s high-speed rail (HSR) network has officially surpassed 50,000 kilometres in operation, following the launch of the Xi’an–Yan’an line on Friday.

The milestone means China’s HSR mileage now exceeds the combined total of all other countries, cementing its position as the world’s largest and most advanced system.

According to China Railway, the network now covers 97% of cities with populations over 500,000, enabling:

• 1–2 hour travel circles within 500 km urban clusters
• ~4-hour trips for 1,000 km distances
• Same-day round trips for ~2,000 km routes

Peak daily capacity has reached 16 million passengers, equivalent to relocating the population of a megacity in a single day.

The new Xi’an–Yan’an HSR line spans 299 km with a design speed of 350 km/h, cutting travel time to 68 minutes from over 130 minutes. Initial operations include up to 38 daily EMU trains serving 10 stations.

Since the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021–2025), China has added about 12,000 km of new HSR lines, a 32% increase from 2020, extending access to 128 counties. Analysts credit the expansion with strengthening economic corridors by accelerating flows of people, information, and capital.

China’s technological leadership is underscored by the CR450 EMU prototype, unveiled in late 2024, which set records such as a 896 km/h relative passing speed and established benchmarks for 400 km/h operations. The country now ranks first globally in mileage, commercial speeds, and comprehensive systems spanning construction, manufacturing, and management.