Chongqing - The Zhengzhou-Chongqing High-Speed Railway, an expansive line that goes across the Three Gorges Reservoir area, marks its first year of operation. The Chongqing section alone has transported 19 million passengers, as reported by the China Railway Chengdu Group Co., Ltd.
A train from the Zhengzhou-Chongqing high-speed railway travels between Wanzhou North and Yunyang. (Photo/China Railway)
Fueling Industrial Integration and Talent Mobility
The Zhengzhou-Chongqing High-Speed Railway serves as a crucial passenger transit artery, connecting the Chongqing municipality with the Hubei and Henan provinces - a combined population of about 190 million. The railway line runs through major economic areas, including the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle and the Central Plains Urban Agglomeration, extending over 1,068 kilometers.
Before the full inauguration of this high-speed line, the railway distance from Zhengzhou to Chongqing spanned 1,480 kilometers, demanding an additional three hours of travel time. With the new railway, towns within the Three Gorges Dam region can now access central urban districts in approximately two hours.
Since its launch, the high-speed railway has fostered improved communication among the diverse communities along its route. The Chongqing section alone has carried 19 million passengers, with more than 3.2 million traversing through the Yunyang, Fengjie, and Wushan stations. During peak times, daily passenger volume exceeds 23 thousand. The railway's operation has also sparked accelerated industrial integration and talent exchange among provinces and cities along its route.
Despite lacking a station in Kaizhou - a district nestled in the backwater end of the Xiaojiang River tributary in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region, Northeast Chongqing - the high-speed railway has significantly bolstered accessibility for the area thanks to its proximity to Wanzhou.
Liu Peng, a resident of Kaizhou, stated, "The Zhengzhou-Chongqing High-Speed Railway has brought us closer, in both time and space, to metropolitan clusters such as the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and the Yangtze River Delta." This efficient and convenient transportation option has expedited the commute of high-end talents, thereby enhancing their sense of achievement and fostering a stronger sense of belonging.
According to Xinhua News, over 100 senior management and research personnel members based in the Puli New Area - Kaizhou's economic development zone - hail from cities along the high-speed railway, including Henan and Hubei.
Promoting Tourism Development
The Zhengzhou-Chongqing High-Speed Railway has also played a critical role in promoting tourism along its route. Over the past year, Yunyang's Longgang Scenic Area welcomed a total of 395,300 visitors, marking an impressive year-on-year growth of 66.09%. Concurrently, the tourist numbers in Fengjie and Wushan have increased by 56% and 26.72%, respectively.
The Zhengzhou-Chongqing High-Speed Railway has also played a critical role in promoting tourism along its route. Over the past year, Yunyang's Longgang Scenic Area welcomed a total of 395,300 visitors, marking an impressive year-on-year growth of 66.09%. Concurrently, the tourist numbers in Fengjie and Wushan have increased by 56% and 26.72%, respectively.
Take Wushan County, for instance, which is situated in the heart of the Three Gorges Dam region and serves as the gateway city to northeastern Chongqing. It is celebrated for its plum production - a "Famous Chinese fruit." Meanwhile, in Fengjie, a rich cultural heritage of poetry that spans thousands of years coexists with lucrative navel orange farming. Since the launch of the high-speed railway, Wushan has seen tens of thousands of tourists arrive to pick plums. Fengjie's navel oranges have grown in popularity, becoming a must-have souvenir for tourists on their return journey.
A celebration event was held at the train platform. (Photo/China Railway Chengdu)
On June 19, a celebration was held at the Chongqing North Station to mark the first anniversary of the railway opening. Passengers on train C6508, bound for Zhengzhou at 9:34 am, were invited to join the celebration inside carriage No. 6, where an array of performances, quizzes, and other festive activities took place.