China High Speed Train Facts - Longest, Fastest & Craziest

In 2015, a nine-minute YouTube video made by a Swedish boy who was traveling in China aroused hotly debate over China High Speed Train. In the video, a coin kept its balance aboard a high-speed train hurtling across the Chinese landscape at speeds up to 310 km/h, even in the slow-down moments the coin stood steadily.

How advanced is high-speed rail in China? China has the world’s largest and still expanding high-speed rail (HSR) network. “Chinese high speed trains are an exceedingly comfortable way to travel”, such sentence has been widely recognized on Quora.

Five Record-breaking High Speed Rail Remarkable to be Known Separately

1. The First Island-looping HSR - Hainan HSR

The 653km long High speed train around Hainan Island was put into operation On December 3, 2010. It was world’s first island-looping high speed train. Passengers can go around the main island of the province from the Phoenix Airport, while enjoying a view of the sea.

>> 4 Days Sanya Holiday with Circular Island High Speed Train Experience

2. The First HSR Built on High Latitude Area - Harbin Dalian High Speed Train

In December 2012, the Harbin-Dalian high speed train, which passed through Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang three provinces at a designed speed about 350km/h, was put into operation. It is the first HSR built on a high latitude area. According to the meteorological records in the past 30 years, those three provinces are the coldest places in winter. The temperature difference in a year of those three provinces in China's northeastern region even reaches 80 degrees Celsius.

>> 6 Days Amazing Snow Ice Tour from Beijing by High Speed Train

3. The Modern Steel and Silk Road - Lanzhou Urumqi High Speed Train

The 1776km long Lanzhou Urumqi High speed train was opened to traffic On December 26, 2014. It is a "modern steel and silk road" that connects both east and west part of China. Except enjoys the longest high-speed mileage constructed at once, it also holds the honors of the first High speed train passes the wind area of deserts. Chack the detailed information about the amazing Lanzhou Xinjiang High Speed Train.

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4. The First HSR Built on Collapsible Loess Area - Zhengzhou Xi'an Route

The first HSR built on a collapsible loess area (Zhengzhou-Xi'an route) opened. The CRH380AL created the fastest test speed over the world (486.1 kilometers per hour) when traveled from Beijing to Shanghai.

Check more detailed information including map, schedule, station and what to see along the way about Zhengzhou-Xi'an High Speed Train.

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5. The Only Chinese HSR with Special Requirements - Beijing Hong Kong Express Rail Link

Beijing-Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link will soon be finished. When finished, it will be the only Chinese high-speed railway to cross a border that requires immigration and customs clearance. The Hong Kong section is expected to open in the third quarter of 2018. By that time, Hong Kong to Shanghai will be reduced from 19 hours to 8 hours, while Hong Kong to Beijing will be reduced from 24 hours to 9 hours. Know more about Beijing High Speed Rail.

>> 6 Days Hong Kong Beijing High Speed Train Experience Tour

The Existing Hexie Train and The Rising Star Fuxing (rejuvenation) EMU Train

Hexie Hao (Harmony,和谐号) also known as the China Railway High-speed(CRH) series EMU, isn't a single platform, instead a term covering all high-speed train except Fuxing trains in China includes CRH1, CRH2, CRH3, CRH5 and CRH6.

On June 26, 2017, China’s Funxing (rejuvenation, 复兴号) trains made its debut. At 11:05, the first Fuxing train G123 (CR400AF Model) departed from Beijing South Railway Station for Shanghai. At the same time, G124 (CR400BF Model) started from Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station for Beijing. It means that the remarkable Fuxing trains with a steady speed more tha 350 kilometers per hour went into operation. Compared with previous Hexi trains,Funxing trains are more advanced. Fuxing trains are entirely designed and manufactured by Chinese.

If you are interested in further details,check more about China High Speed Train Types.

No High Speed Train Existed in China before 2008. None at All!

Needless to say, China didn't hold any honor about High Speed Train before 2008. There was no High Speed Train at all over those years! But things changed after the Olympic year 2008. With a top-speed of 350km/h, which is faster than most of other countries over the world, the Beijing-Tianjin Intercity Railway(京津城际高铁) opened. The new train service cut the 120-km journey from 70 minutes to about 30 minutes.

Never Stop - The Crazy Medium and Long Term Railway Network Plan

There are medium and long term plan about expanding High Speed Railway network in China. According to the medium plan, by the year 2020, China's railway network will be 150,000 km, of which about 30,000 km will be high speed. That means 80% of major cities in China will be covered by High Speed Train. And according to the long term plan, by the year 2030, the network will be full completed, the existing “4+4” network will expand to eight north-south, and eight east-west.

New Price Rule - No Longer a Fixed Price

Railway authorities recently announced a new price rule. Unlike previous years, the high speed train ticket will no longer keep it fixed price. Starting from April 28, the price will change according to the needs of passengers, which means the price of holiday may higher than the rest work days, especially during the China Spring Festival. Besides, the railway department will also cut the price of train tickets for some of the 28 intercity railcars, with some discounts up to 20 percent. For those of you who may not be familiar with China's working days, let our professional travel expert check the newest and exact information for you. Or you can visit our updated China train schedules and fares to check the train ticket and start to plan you travel journey!