Kunming in November enjoys a spring-like warmth. At the Kunming Central Railway Station of China United International Rail Containers Co., Ltd. in the Wangjiaying area, heavy trucks come and go without stopping, and the "steel camel caravan" is fully loaded and ready to depart, transporting goods to Southeast Asian countries via the China-Laos railway.

The China-Laos Railway stretches from Kunming in China in the north to Vientiane in Laos in the south, with a total length of 1,035 kilometres. Since its opening on December 3 2021, Yunnan Province and Kunming city have been following the instructions of Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese president to maintain and operate the railway well, develop and construct well the areas along the line, and create a golden line for the benefit of the people of both countries.

As of October 31 2024, the China-Laos Railway has transported a total of 41.5 million passengers and 46.5 million tonnes of goods, becoming a convenient and efficient international logistics golden channel between China and ASEAN.

At present, with Kunming as the starting point, the railway facilitates smooth travel for people and the flow of goods between China and Laos, fostering mutual understanding and cultural exchange, and injecting endless momentum into the socio-economic development along the path. The China-Laos railway has become a road of happiness, development and friendship for the people along the route.

Many tourists choose to travel across the border on the China-Laos Railway International Passenger Train. Photo from Xinhua

Golden passenger line actives cross-border tourism

Since its opening, the China-Laos railway has become the first choice for travelers between China and Laos, driving a surge in cross-border tourism.

At 8:08 am on November 3, the D87 China-Laos Railway international passenger train slowly departed from Kunming South Railway Station and headed towards Vientiane, Laos.

"I'm so excited! I've always wanted to visit Luang Prabang, and now I'm going to fulfil the dream of my youth with my old partner by train." Sitting on the international passenger train to Laos, Ms. Zhang explained that she plans to spend seven days exploring the night markets in Luang Prabang and savoring local Lao cuisine in Vientiane.

The China-Laos Railway connects Kunming, Xishuangbanna, Luang Prabang, Vientiane and other tourist destinations, which greatly facilitates international travellers to visit cultural landmarks and natural scenic spots along the route. Following the opening of the China-Laos Railway international passenger train, travel agencies in Beijing, Harbin, Shenyang and other cities have launched the "domestic tourism train + international passenger train" products and organised China-Laos cross-border tours to Laos, further expanding the reach of the international passenger train, boosting tourism in places like Xishuangbanna, Luang Prabang.

Xishuangbanna saw a surge in tourists during the 2024 National Day holiday. With offerings like Dai cuisine, rainforest trekking, river valley rafting, the region attracted a large number of travellers. According to statistics, during the National Day holiday, the domestic section of the China-Laos Railway transported a total of 453,000 passengers, running 26 international passenger trains from Kunming South Railway Station to Vientiane and from Xishuangbanna to Luang Prabang, transporting nearly 7,000 cross-border travellers, with cross-border travellers increasing by 166.5% compared to the same period last year.

Mrs. Suansavanh Viyaket, Laos Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, stated in an interview that the railway has transformed from blueprint to reality, facilitating travel not only for Chinese and Lao citizens but also for people from neighboring countries. This railway will bring more tourists to Laos, enhancing the well-being of its people.

According to the data, as of October 31, 2024, the China-Laos Railway has transported a total of 41.5 million passengers. To meet the growing demand for passenger travel, the railway department has implemented a flexible scheduling strategy based on big data analysis, allowing for precise passenger capacity management. This approach effectively responds to fluctuations in passenger flow while ensuring a convenient and comfortable travel experience. More than 300,000 passengers from more than 100 countries and regions have crossed the border via the China-Laos railway, and from January 1 to October 23, 2024, more than 200,000 cross-border passengers have crossed the border. These travellers are mainly from Laos, Thailand, Malaysia and other countries, and they mainly travel to Luang Prabang and Vientiane in Laos, and Kunming, Dali and Lijiang in China.

Yang Yongquan from Vientiane Operation and Management Centre of Pu'er Car Service Section of Kunming Bureau noted that with the ongoing advancement of the Belt and Road Initiative, China is increasingly opening its doors to the world. The expansion of visa-free policies and conveniences like “144-hour visa-free transit” have sparked global interest in the China-Laos Railway, transforming it into a new hub for international tourism and cultural exchange, showcasing its unique charm.

Thai durians arrive in Kunming via the China-Laos railway. Photo from Xinhua

Efficient cargo transport along the China-Laos Railway

The China-Laos railway is facilitating seamless transport, connecting goods across borders.

At 4 pm on October 14, the first trip of the China-Laos Railway "Beijing-Yunnan Lancang-Mekong Line" international freight train loaded with imported bananas from Laos left Wangjiaying West Station with a loud whistle, marking the official launch of the international cold chain freight service and China-Laos Railway "Beijing-Yunnan Lancang-Mekong Line" international freight train. The train departed from Vientiane South Station in Laos, arrived in Kunming on October 14 after a night of speeding, and continued its journey north, finally arriving at Mafang Station in Beijing's Pinggu District after a journey of 4,000 kilometres.

This batch of bananas from Laos will be distributed at the Jingping Comprehensive Logistics Hub before making their way to markets in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. The launch of this dedicated freight line successfully connects North China and Yunnan with Southeast Asia, showcasing Yunnan's geographical advantages and enhancing logistics efficiency across South and Southeast Asia.

So far, the railway department has successfully launched international freight trains such as "Shanghai-Yunnan Lancang-Mekong Line" "Guangdong-Yunnan Lancang-Mekong Line" "Hunan-Yunnan Lancang-Mekong Line" and "Beijing-Yunnan Lancang-Mekong Line", covering major cities in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, Hunan, and Yunnan. This expansion has accelerated the flow of goods to Kunming, establishing Wangjiaying as a central hub for international freight.

"The 'Lancang-Mekong Express' international freight train has been in great demand and has become one of the most popular freight service products on the China-Laos Railway. To improve the quality of the train and meet customers' demands for timely transportation, we monitor the loading progress in real time, arrange the transfer plan scientifically, ensure smooth operations. Li Hongxing, deputy director of the Kunming Logistics Centre of the Kunming Bureau of China Railway, said that the "Lancang-Mekong Express" from Kunming to Vientiane takes only 26 hours, which greatly meets the market demand for fast logistics and has been widely favoured by domestic and foreign companies.

As of October 31, 2024, the China-Laos Railway has transported a total of 46.5 million tons of cargo, including over 10.7 million tons of cross-border goods. The service now connects with 12 countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative and major cities across 31 provinces in China. The range of goods transported has expanded from just ten types, such as rubber and fertilizers, to over 2,900, including electronics and automobiles, with daily train services increasing from two to seventeen.

On the domestic front, the China-Laos railway connects with the new western land and sea corridor and the China-Europe liner; on the international front, it provides a more convenient and efficient logistics channel for China to connect with South and Southeast Asia, and greatly promotes inter-regional trade exchanges and economic cooperation.

In addition to "Lancang-Mekong Express", the railway sector is also actively exploring other new international transport models, such as "China-Laos Railway + China-European Line", "China-Laos Railway + Western Land and Sea New Corridor Line" and so on. These initiatives not only enrich the transport products of China-Laos Railway, but also provide more diversified logistics options for domestic and foreign enterprises.

The 'Lancang' train (left) and the 'Fuxing' train photographed at the Mohan railway port. Photo from Xinhua

Strengthening bonds: deepening China-Laos Friendship through the railway

The China-Laos Railway serves as a vital link between the two nations, fostering mutual understanding, cultural exchange, and lasting friendships.

As a major infrastructure cooperation project jointly built by China and Laos, the China-Laos railway is a project of people's heart, friendship and demonstration. In the process of operating the railway, the China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. (China Railway) has continuously improved the training of Lao staff, addressing local employment needs. Considering the lack of railway management experience in Laos, on the eve of the opening of the China-Laos Railway, the China Railway actively docked with the railway department of the Lao government, helped research and formulate the management system, technical specifications and operation standards in the light of the actual situation of the China-Laos railway, provided intellectual property reference materials such as rules and regulations for high-speed railway management and operation manuals. It also dispatched more than 540 excellent talents covering various railway management systems to Laos to guide and assist the Lao side in jointly carrying out railway operations.

One notable example of this model is the partnership between Chinese master Pan Gui and Lao apprentice Feng Tu. A graduate of Shanghai Institute of Technology, Feng Tu was among the first Lao employees on the railway. After being assigned to the railway section, Pan Gui took Feng Tu under his wing. To impart his knowledge,  Pan Gui often uses his rest time to learn professional knowledge, and when he encounters problems that he can't solve by himself, he will ask the more experienced colleagues in the team. Under Pan's patient guidance, the diligent Feng Tu quickly advanced to become a team leader in overhead line operations. By the end of 2023, he achieved first place in a technical competition organized by the Luang Prabang Maintenance Management Center. "In our line of work, even the slightest deviation is unacceptable. Whenever I encountered difficulties, Master Pan would guide me through practice repeatedly," Feng Tu expressed with gratitude.

The "Lao Railway Vocational and Technical College Assistance Project" complements the China-Laos Railway. Approved by the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) in April 2019, it aims to establish a full-time vocational college in Laos, filling a gap in the country’s railway vocational education. In August 2021, the project's educational capacity building and educational technology cooperation partially implemented in Kunming Railway Vocational and Technical College.

Using a "2+5" model, 40 students selected by the Lao Ministry of Education and Sports will study at Kunming Railway Vocational and Technical College for two years. Upon their return, teaching teams from Kunming will visit Laos in phases over five years to help establish a comprehensive educational management system and effective railway program operations, training technical personnel. As of August 2023, the first group of 40 Lao teachers has completed their studies and returned to Laos to assume the responsibility of training railway professionals. The third group of experts from Kunming Railway Vocational and Technical College is currently in Laos, supporting the college's educational initiatives.

New Opportunities for Kunming Through the China-Laos Railway

The China-Laos Railway has bestowed Kunming with a new mission and development opportunities, positioning the city at the forefront of openness.

As the starting point of the China-Laos Railway, Kunming City has adapted to the current situation, seized the opportunities presented by the Belt and Road Initiative, the implementation of RCEP, and the transfer of industries. The city remains steadfast in prioritizing development, focusing on resource, park, and port economies, while making significant strides in industry growth, investment attraction, consumption expansion, technological innovation, and headquarters economy.

In 2022, Kunming officially took over management of Mohan Town in Xishuangbanna Prefecture. After becoming the only provincial capital in China with a "border port", Kunming take full advantage of the policy stacking of Mohan-Boten Economic Cooperation Zone between China and Laos, Kunming Comprehensive Bonded Zone and Kunming Area of China (Yunnan) Pilot Free Trade Zone and other open platforms, facilitating a robust logistics network that enhances trade and industry development.

Mohan has emerged as an attractive investment destination, with numerous projects like Mohan Middle School and Kunming Mohan Hospital underway, transforming the border town into an international port city.

Meanwhile, relying on the China-Laos Railway, Kunming is accelerating the construction of an international logistics hub centered around Wangjiaying. At present, there are more than 1,400 registered enterprises in Wangjiaying area, of which 44 are above-scale enterprises, forming an industrial structure mainly based on trade and logistics, processing and manufacturing. Wangjiaying Area is accelerating the work of upgrading and transformation, the area will be developed into the Kunming International Land Port Centre and Distribution Centre and the core area of the International Logistics Hub.

The Southern Vientiane Station on the China-Laos Railway has been completed and is now operational, achieving a "hard connection" between the Chinese railway network and the meter-gauge railway of the Southeast Asian Peninsula. This development further enhances the China-Laos Railway's role in regional connectivity, improves international transport efficiency between China and ASEAN countries, reduces cross-border logistics costs, and strengthens Kunming's regional advantages.

As the new Silk Road converges in Kunming, the golden corridor connects the world. With the support of the China-Laos Railway, Kunming’s potential for growth is limitless, promising a bright future ahead.

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(Editors: Reena, Rachel)