In 2023, China significantly expanded its infrastructure and, in particular, extended the high-speed rail (HSR) network to over 45,000 km, more than a quarter of the 159,000 km total length of the Chinese rail network. The Chinese state railway CR put a total of 3,637 km of new railway lines into operation in 2023, including 2,776 km of HSR lines. CR put the investment at €98 billion (CNY 764.5 billion), 7.5% more than in 2022. CR recorded a record number of passengers in 2023 with 3.68 billion journeys and transported 3.91 billion t of freight. The newly opened HSR lines include the Huangshan – Nanchang connection and the line from Shantou to Shanwei. The connection from Fangchenggang to the border with Vietnam and the Chengdu Dong – Yibin line were also newly opened. A fourth HSR line between Beijing and Tianjin has connected Beijing Daxing Airport with Tianjin since December 2023. New east-west connections have been created between Qingdao Laixi and Rongcheng and from Jinan to Puyang. The Longyan – Wuping line was opened and another HSR line between Nanchang and Huangshan was inaugurated.
