China’s rapidly growing railway network and high-speed services using it are having an unprecedented impact on both its domestic and international tourism markets.
The Chinese ministry of transport confirmed that at the end of 2024, the total rail network had grown by 65 per cent to 162,000 kilometres in 12 years, of which 48,000 kilometres are high speed– four times as much as there was in 2012.
The extensive network, which is second only in size to the US, penetrates most parts of the country and the ultimate plan is to have 274,000 kilometres of railway by 2050.
And it is proving to be popular too, with the Chinese government revealing that 1.86 billion rail passengers were recorded in the first five months of 2025, a 7.3 per cent increase on the same period in 2024.
China expert and executive director of Alex Neill Consulting, Alex Neill, says plans for today’s growing network date back to the financial crash of 2008, when it was decided that expanding the country’s railways would not only generate immediate productivity but also better connectivity.
The original aim was to connect the country’s key cities and provinces while also opening up the southern economic powerhouse region to the rest of the country.
Neill says: “China might not have invented high speed rail but where it really has been able to innovate is to scale it up, modernise it, improve it and employ it – that’s what China is really good at.”
Gary Bowerman, director of travel consultancy Check-in Asia, adds the growth of the high-speed rail network has led to journey times being cut considerably, with the highest speed routes between major cities now hosting trains travelling at 350 kilometres per hour while the longer routes host trains travelling at up to 250 kilometres per hour.
He adds: “If you travel across the country from Shanghai to Xi’an and you’re travelling at up to 250 kilometres per hour, it slashes hours off the trip.”
Rail focuses on tourism
Neill adds the growth in the network corresponds with President Xi Jinping’s rise to power in 2012 when the growing railway network started being viewed as a travel and tourism asset, an opinion that was amplified by the 2020 Covid pandemic and the many lockdowns endured in China.
He says: “There has been a huge increase in domestic tourism recently to traditional destinations but also you have an urban middle class with disposable assets.
“This means things like city breaks, not just trips to scenic spots, are connecting up China in a way that hasn’t been done before.
“The main drive now is to connect the Chinese population across the entire country to stimulate local economies through tourism.”
Bowerman agrees that domestic breaks in China are changing as the market matures and adds that third and fourth tier cities are becoming popular with younger travellers who visit by train, providing new investment opportunities.
Bowerman says: “For hotel real estate investors now the main tier one cites are saturated although there are decentralised areas with some space in them.
“However, the majority of investment now is going into these third and fourth tier cities and that’s from both Chinese investors and foreign investors.
“That didn’t happen before the pandemic but it’s happening now. Cities aren’t just more connected but they are more connected in a marketing way and it’s changed the way people perceive overland travel for tourism.”
Bowerman adds the biggest loser in the growth of the railways is the domestic aviation sector which was already saturated with aircraft after the pandemic decimated China’s international aviation markets.
He says: “High speed rail on trips of up to 700 kilometres are now challenging the airlines as they are more punctual, they’re very competitive on prices and you go from the centre of the city to the centre of the city, not via airports.”
Overseas interest
While the domestic market might be embracing the new rail system, and the opportunities it presents, with open arms, it is also proving to be popular with foreign tour operators who offer tours to the country.
Wendy Wu Tours founder Wendy Wu says: “The growth of China’s high-speed rail network has been nothing short of transformational and the impact on Wendy Wu Tours has been profound.”
She adds customers now enjoy the high-speed trains so much that 70 per cent of all tours involve at least one train trip, up from 20 per cent a decade ago, while two rail-focused tours are now two of the fastest growing in the China portfolio.
Wu says the move to rail comes as the operator sees rapid growth in travel to China, 25 per cent is predicted for 2025 and another 20 to 25 per cent increase expected in 2026, from its source markets of UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, where it is the market leader in passenger numbers.
She adds: “We work closely with a number of Chinese tourism authorities and the national rail network as part of a broader initiative to boost inbound tourism.
“That collaboration has made it easier to access group ticketing allocations, secure support at key hubs and streamline boarding and ticketing processes for our guests.
“This partnership approach has been instrumental in enabling us to scale up our rail-based touring programmes, while also delivering a smooth, efficient and elevated experience for our customers.”
Wu says the key benefits for customers are the shorter internal travel times, which allow for more exploring in destination, while arriving in the city centre cuts out the need for airport transits.
“High-speed rail allows us to put our guests right into the beating heart of a destination,” Wu says.
“Instead of airport hotels or out-of-town stays, we now favour properties that are close to cultural landmarks, markets and local neighbourhoods.”
She adds the new rail links have unlocked new destinations including Guizhou province and Zhangjiajie and she is keen to see faster and more direct services to other areas including Tibet and the western desert regions, where Silk Road sites like Dunhuang await.
While Wu admits logistical issues include securing tickets in peak periods while the restricted baggage capacity on bullet trains means the operator deploys a dedicated luggage transfer service on some of its longer itineraries, she argues the benefits of the system far outweigh these issues.
Which is probably just as well as, with a further 112,000 kilometres of line due to be laid in the next 25 years, the benefits currently being enjoyed by both domestic and international travellers will no doubt grow as quickly as the rail network.