By the end of 2025 China’s high‑speed rail network will have added 1,142 km, reaching a total of 50,400 km – the longest system in the world, according to figures from China State Railway Group reported by Xinhua.

The 552 km Xiongan‑Shangqiu line will cut the quickest journey between the two cities to 2 hours 27 minutes. China Daily says up to 64 trains a day will run on the line at first, and eleven counties along the route will receive high‑speed service for the first time.

In the far northeast, the 318 km Harbin‑Yichun line will reduce travel from about seven hours to under two hours. Xinhua reports the line, designed for 250 kph, will initially carry up to 38 trains daily.

The 171 km Xi'an‑Ankang section in the northwest will bring the fastest trip down to 45 minutes. CCTV notes that the line will start with up to 20 trains each day.

China State Railway Group expects 284 million rail passenger trips during the 16‑day travel window from Sept 23 to Oct 8, covering the Mid‑Autumn Festival and the National Day holiday. A railway official told China Business Journal that daily traffic should stay around 17.75 million trips, the highest holiday flow on record.

Together, the new routes shorten journeys, add more train slots and open high‑speed service to previously unserved counties, which should ease congestion and make the massive holiday travel period smoother for millions of passengers.