More than three years have passed since the China-Laos Railway began operations. According to the operator, the 1,000-kilometer-plus rail line has seen a significant growth in both cross-border passengers and goods. And whether you're heading out or coming in, this vital gateway is impossible to bypass.

YANG JINGHAO Mohan, Yunnan Province "It's Mohan. This once remote border town is now undergoing rapid transformation, as it aims to become an international port city."

Sitting right on the China-Laos border, Mohan, home to just around 20,000 residents, is witnessing the rise of a new city from the ground up, with construction projects in full swing.

Luo Feng leads the company driving Mohan's investment and development. He envisions a future where Mohan is more than just a transit hub for passengers or a corridor for goods, but a thriving industrial cluster.

LUO FENG General Manager Yunnan Mohan Development and Investment Group Co., Ltd. "Our investment promotion efforts are progressing well. Looking ahead, our industrial parks will focus on three key areas: on-site processing, export-oriented industries, and labor-intensive sectors."

In fact, some companies are already up and running, including this garment factory from east China's Fujian Province.

DONG KUNJIN Chairman, Yunnan Sanlian Garment Co., Ltd. "Our goal is to set up 67 production lines with modern intelligent manufacturing. The target annual output is over 10 million pieces, with a production value of around 1.3 billion yuan."

As one of this year's key investment projects, construction of a 3.4-kilometer tunnel is set to begin, connecting Mohan with neighboring Boten.

LUO FENG General Manager Yunnan Mohan Development and Investment Group Co., Ltd. "The tunnel is expected to be open to traffic by the end of 2027. Once completed, it will significantly enhance the efficiency of cross-border connectivity within the industrial park, facilitating the flow of people and goods between China and Laos."

China and ASEAN are each other's largest trading partners. To further facilitate the growing bilateral trade, the land port at Mohan is being expanded, from the current two lanes to twelve lanes.

LIU MIN Management Committee of China-Laos Mohan-Boten Economic Cooperation Zone "In 2024, the Mohan ports, including both rail and land, handled 9.2 million tons of goods, a 10 percent increase from the previous year, setting a new historical high. Given this, we need wider channels to accommodate the growing import and export trade."

People-to-people exchanges are also thriving. Just 40 kilometers from Mohan, an occupational high school accommodates over 500 students from Laos. The school says the number of applicants is steadily growing.

PHETNAVONGXAY WINNER Lao Student "The China-Laos Railway is not only convenient and fast, but it also carries our dreams. The trains not only take us to China, but also to our future."

Since February 10, tour groups from ASEAN countries have been eligible for visa-free entry to Xishuangbanna in Yunnan, with Mohan serving as a key entry point, which is expected to bring greater vitality to the area.

Experts say that with the continuous advancement of the Belt and Road Initiative, Mohan will become an increasingly vital pivot in Yunnan's role as a gateway to South and Southeast Asia. YJH, CGTN, on the China-Laos border.