April 6 marked the 100th day of operation for both the Guiyang-Kunming section of the Shanghai-Kunming high-speed railway(HSR) and the Baise-Kunming section of Yunnan-Guangxi line. During these 100 days, Yunnan-based high-speed trains transported more than three million passengers. On an average day, 56 pairs of EMU trains carried 30,000 passengers on the two high-speed railway lines. On the busiest day, 58,000 passengers took the trains. The high-speed rail lines have made Yunnan more accessible by expanding regional exchanges and facilitating regional development. The high-speed rail has become a “new engine” for the economic and social development of all areas through which they pass.
Yunnan becoming more accessible
Gao Ping took the EMU G1376 from the Kunming South Railway Station to the Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station after a three-day Tomb Sweeping Festival holiday in his hometown of Chuxiong, Yunnan. “I used to hold a memorial ceremony in Shanghai for my ancestors. But now, I can return to my hometown by EMU to offer sacrifices to my ancestors and visit relatives.It’s really convenient,” Gao Ping said excitedly.
After the high-speed rail went into operation, Kunming was brought closer to once-distant cities. Specifically, a train journey from Kunming to Beijing has been reduced from 33 hours to 12, while a trip to Shanghai, which once took 34 hours, now takes only 11. Meanwhile, train trips to Guangzhou have been shortened from 24 hours to 6, and passengers can travel from Kunming to Guiyang, Changsha and Nanning by bullet trains in two, five and four hours respectively.
Increases regional exchanges
The absence of railways in Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture used to affect local development to a certain extent. With the Yunnan-Guangxi high-speed rail line now in operation, 56 pairs of EMU trains now operate between Kunming and Wenshan. The convenience of this transportation has boosted local development.
Puzhehei Railway Station is just a small stop on the Yunnan-Guangxi high-speed rail line, but it now handles nearly 10,000 passengers on a daily basis. By running hotels, selling snacks, acting as tour guides or engaging in passenger and cargo transport, many Zhuang and Miao people have found employment and increased their incomes.
“The high-speed rail is bringing a greater flow of people, materials, capital and information, which means new opportunities for Yunnan’s tourism development. And travelling by high-speed rail is increasingly popular with tourists,” said Li Yong, a product manager at the Kunming Kanghui Travel Agency.
The high-speed rail is bringing Kunming closer to cities in other provinces and creating greater space and opportunities for exchanges and cooperative endeavours among all involved parties.