（下边有中文翻译请继续看到底。 谢谢。）
Few symbols better capture China’s modernization and innovation drive than its high-speed railways. From a modest beginning just two decades ago to today’s world-leading network stretching across the vast mainland, China’s high-speed rail (HSR) system has redefined mobility, economic integration, and national pride. It stands as a living testimony to what vision, determination, and technological excellence can achieve when fused under a coherent long-term plan.
Today, with the launch and successful testing of the next-generation CR450 high-speed train, China is once again setting a new global standard. This cutting-edge train recently achieved a speed of 453 kilometers per hour in pre-service tests — a new record for wheel-on-rail trains anywhere in the world. The CR450 is more than just another technological leap; it represents the culmination of decades of continuous innovation and the confident step of a nation leading global transport transformation.
The History of Rail Development in China
China’s rail journey began in the late 19th century under colonial and semi-colonial conditions, when early lines were built by foreign powers for narrow, strategic purposes. The modern era of rail development, however, took shape after 1949 when the People’s Republic of China began to rebuild and expand the national railway network under state leadership.
For decades, rail remained the backbone of China’s domestic connectivity, transporting people, coal, grain, and goods across vast distances. But by the late 1990s, with rapid urbanization and economic expansion, the conventional rail system was stretched beyond capacity. The need for a faster, more efficient, and environmentally friendly mode of transport became evident.
The early 2000s marked the beginning of a new era. The Chinese government launched an ambitious Medium- and Long-Term Railway Development Plan, which laid the foundation for the high-speed rail system. The first true high-speed line, the Beijing–Tianjin Intercity Railway, opened in 2008, just before the Beijing Olympics, symbolizing a modern China racing into the future.
Building the World’s Largest High-Speed Rail Network
From that historic beginning, China’s high-speed rail has grown with breathtaking speed and scale. As of 2025, the country boasts more than 45,000 kilometers of high-speed rail lines — over two-thirds of the world’s total network. Every major city in China with a population exceeding half a million is now connected to the HSR system, forming a seamless web that integrates regional economies and facilitates mobility for hundreds of millions of passengers annually.
Trains crisscross the nation from Harbin in the northeast to Guangzhou in the south, from Shanghai in the east to Urumqi in the far west. The system has transformed domestic travel, reducing journeys that once took days to mere hours. For example, what used to be a 12-hour trip between Beijing and Shanghai now takes just 4.5 hours on the Fuxing bullet train.
China’s HSR development is guided by principles of safety, speed, reliability, affordability, and sustainability. Every generation of Chinese trains — from the early Harmony (Hexie) models to the current Fuxing and now CR450 — represents a leap in indigenous innovation, design efficiency, and passenger comfort.
Fuxing: The Pride of China’s High-Speed Fleet
Before the arrival of the CR450, China’s Fuxing series (meaning “Rejuvenation”) symbolized the nation’s high-speed success. The Fuxing CR400AF and CR400BF models operate at a commercial speed of 350 kilometers per hour, making them the fastest regularly scheduled trains in the world. These trains are 100% domestically developed — a source of immense national pride — with technological independence in traction, control, and safety systems.
They are not only fast but also energy-efficient and passenger-friendly. The Fuxing trains have set new global standards in reliability, punctuality, and safety, with their on-time performance exceeding 99%. They serve major routes such as Beijing–Shanghai, Beijing–Guangzhou, Shanghai–Shenzhen, and Xi’an–Chengdu, enabling over 10 billion cumulative passenger trips since the start of operations.
The CR450: A New Global Benchmark
In 2021, China launched the CR450 project — its next-generation high-speed train development program — as part of a national initiative to push the boundaries of engineering and innovation. After years of research, design, and rigorous testing, the CR450 has now demonstrated a remarkable achievement: reaching 453 kilometers per hour during tests on the Shanghai–Chongqing–Chengdu high-speed corridor.
The new train’s performance surpasses every other wheel-on-rail train in the world. For context:
France’s TGV and Japan’s Shinkansen both reach commercial speeds of around 320 km/h.
South Korea’s KTX-Sancheon operates at 305 km/h.
China’s Fuxing CR400, already a world leader, has a top speed of 350 km/h.
The CR450 now raises the ceiling further, showing that China’s technological ecosystem — from materials science to digital control systems — continues to advance rapidly.
But the story does not end with speed alone. The CR450 embodies a new design philosophy centered on efficiency, environmental sustainability, and passenger comfort. The train consumes less energy per kilometer than its predecessors, operates with reduced noise and vibration, and integrates advanced smart-control and monitoring systems. Every component, from the aerodynamic nose cone to the braking system, has been optimized through thousands of wind tunnel tests and digital simulations.
Before entering commercial service, the CR450 must complete 600,000 kilometers of safe trial runs — a standard protocol for ensuring reliability and safety in all operating conditions. Commercial operations are expected to begin by 2026, marking yet another milestone in China’s journey toward becoming the undisputed leader in high-speed rail technology.
A Comparative Global Perspective
In less than two decades, China has achieved what took Europe and Japan over half a century to build. The global high-speed rail landscape now looks unmistakably China-centric.
Country Maximum Commercial Speed Length of HSR Network (approx.)
China 350 km/h (CR400) 45,000+ km
France (TGV) 320 km/h 2,800 km
Japan (Shinkansen) 320 km/h 3,000 km
Spain (AVE) 310 km/h 3,200 km
Germany (ICE) 300 km/h 1,700 km
South Korea (KTX) 305 km/h 1,200 km
China’s achievements dwarf those of other nations not only in terms of scale but also integration — linking more than 80% of major cities by high-speed rail, with uniform ticketing systems, synchronized timetables, and consistent safety standards.
While Japan’s Shinkansen pioneered the idea of high-speed travel, and France’s TGV symbolized Western innovation, China’s model represents speed with inclusivity — offering affordability, accessibility, and national reach. Millions of ordinary citizens, not just business travelers, benefit from this modern marvel.
China’s Railways Going Global
China’s expertise in high-speed rail is not confined to its borders. Through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China has become the principal partner in railway construction across Asia, Africa, and Europe. From Indonesia’s Jakarta–Bandung High-Speed Railway, now operational, to projects in Thailand, Laos, Hungary, and Serbia, China is exporting not just trains, but an entire ecosystem of engineering excellence, financing, and operational know-how.
Chinese companies are building or helping to modernize railway systems in Kenya, Ethiopia, Egypt, Nigeria, and Argentina, among others. These projects are more than commercial ventures; they symbolize China’s vision of connectivity, cooperation, and shared development.
Unlike other global players, China offers an unmatched combination of technology, experience, speed, and affordability. Its integrated model — from design and construction to financing and training — ensures projects are delivered efficiently and sustainably.
Why China Leads: Technology, Experience, and Vision
China’s dominance in high-speed rail stems from a unique blend of policy vision, technological prowess, and strategic consistency. Long-term planning has ensured stable funding, coordinated research, and continuous human resource development. The country’s vast domestic market has allowed for large-scale testing and rapid iteration of technology.
Moreover, China’s industrial ecosystem — from steel manufacturing to electrical systems — provides full supply-chain control. This reduces costs and ensures quality, giving China a decisive edge in global competition.
Perhaps most importantly, China views high-speed rail not just as infrastructure, but as a social equalizer — a tool to bridge regional divides, promote tourism, enhance labor mobility, and stimulate balanced regional development.
From the icy plains of Harbin to the highlands of Yunnan, high-speed trains now carry dreams, ideas, and opportunities across the world’s third-largest country.
Riding Toward a Smarter, Greener Future
As the CR450 prepares for commercial service, China’s railway engineers are already looking beyond — to the next frontier of innovation: intelligent railways, autonomous train operation, and green energy integration. Future trains may exceed 500 km/h with maglev technology, while smart rail networks will integrate artificial intelligence to optimize scheduling, safety, and energy use.
High-speed rail is also central to China’s climate strategy. Electrified trains dramatically reduce carbon emissions compared to air and road transport. With growing urbanization and middle-class mobility, rail offers a sustainable model of growth and modernization.
A Symbol of National Confidence and Global Partnership
From the early steam engines of the 19th century to the sleek CR450 of today, China’s rail journey is nothing short of transformative. In less than a generation, the country has built the largest, fastest, and most advanced high-speed railway network in the world — connecting its people, empowering its regions, and inspiring nations worldwide.
The CR450 stands as both a technological marvel and a symbol of China’s confidence in its future. With its unmatched capacity, affordability, and vision for shared progress, China is not just moving people faster — it is driving the world toward a new era of sustainable, connected development.
No other country today can match China’s combination of scale, speed, quality, and affordability. And as China extends its helping hand to friendly nations to build modern railways, it carries with it not only technology and finance but a spirit of partnership and mutual progress.
The world may be divided by borders — but thanks to China’s high-speed railways, it is now more connected than ever before.
中国高铁革命和CR450的突破。
没有什么比高速铁路更能体现中国的现代化和创新动力了。从20年前的一个不起眼的开始，到今天遍布广阔大陆的世界领先的网络，中国的高速铁路系统重新定义了流动性、经济一体化和民族自豪感。它是一个活生生的见证，证明了远见、决心和卓越的技术在一个连贯的长期计划下是可以实现的。
今天，随着新一代CR450高速列车的发射和成功测试，中国再次树立了新的全球标准。这种尖端列车最近在服役前测试中达到了每小时453公里的速度，这是世界上任何地方轮轨列车的新纪录。CR450不仅仅是又一次技术飞跃；它代表了几十年来不断创新的高潮，也是中国引领全球交通转型的自信一步。
中国铁路发展史
中国的铁路之旅始于19世纪末的殖民地和半殖民地时期，当时早期的铁路是由外国列强为狭隘的战略目的而修建的。然而，现代铁路发展的时代是在1949年之后形成的，当时中华人民共和国在国家领导下开始重建和扩大国家铁路网。
几十年来，铁路一直是中国国内交通的支柱，远距离运输人员、煤炭、粮食和货物。但到了20世纪90年代末，随着城市化和经济的快速扩张，传统的铁路系统已经不堪重负。对更快、更有效、更环保的交通方式的需求变得明显起来。
21世纪初标志着一个新时代的开始。中国政府推出了雄心勃勃的中长期铁路发展规划，为高速铁路系统奠定了基础。第一条真正意义上的高铁——京津城际铁路，于2008年北京奥运会前夕开通，象征着一个奔向未来的现代中国。
建设世界上最大的高速铁路网
从那个历史性的起点开始，中国的高铁以惊人的速度和规模发展。截至2025年，中国拥有超过4.5万公里的高铁线路，占世界总铁路网的三分之二以上。现在，中国人口超过50万的每个主要城市都与高铁系统相连，形成了一个无缝的网络，整合了区域经济，并为每年数亿乘客的出行提供了便利。
火车纵横于全国各地，从东北的哈尔滨到南部的广州，从东部的上海到西部的乌鲁木齐。该系统改变了国内旅行，将曾经需要几天的旅程缩短到仅仅几个小时。例如，过去从北京到上海需要12个小时，现在乘坐复兴号高铁只需4.5小时。
中国高铁的发展遵循安全、速度、可靠性、可负担性和可持续性的原则。中国的每一代列车——从早期的和谐号到现在的复兴号，再到现在的CR450——都代表着自主创新、设计效率和乘客舒适度的飞跃。
复兴号：中国高速舰队的骄傲
在CR450到来之前，中国的复兴系列（意思是“复兴”）象征着国家高速的成功。复兴号CR400AF和CR400BF的商业运行速度为每小时350公里，是世界上最快的定期列车。这些列车100%是国内研发的——这是巨大的民族自豪感的来源——在牵引、控制和安全系统方面具有技术独立。
它们不仅速度快，而且节能且对乘客友好。复兴号列车在可靠性、准点率和安全性方面树立了新的全球标准，准点率超过99%。它们服务于北京-上海、北京-广州、上海-深圳和西安-成都等主要航线，自运营以来累计客运量超过100亿人次。
CR450：新的全球基准
2021年，中国启动了CR450项目——下一代高速列车开发计划——作为推动工程和创新边界的国家倡议的一部分。经过多年的研究、设计和严格的测试，CR450现在已经展示了一项了不起的成就：在上海-重庆-成都高速走廊的测试中，时速达到了453公里。
新列车的性能超过了世界上所有其他的轮轨列车。背景:
法国的TGV和日本的新干线都达到了每小时320公里左右的商业速度。
韩国的KTX-Sancheon的运行速度为305公里/小时。
中国的复兴CR400已经是世界领先的，最高时速为350公里/小时。
CR450现在进一步提高了上限，表明中国的技术生态系统——从材料科学到数字控制系统——继续快速发展。
但故事的结尾并不仅仅是速度。CR450体现了以效率、环境可持续性和乘客舒适度为中心的全新设计理念。这列火车每公里消耗的能量比之前的火车要少，运行时噪音和振动都降低了，并集成了先进的智能控制和监控系统。每一个部件，从气动前锥体到制动系统，都经过了数千次风洞测试和数字模拟的优化。
在投入商业服务之前，CR450必须完成60万公里的安全试运行，这是确保所有运行条件下可靠性和安全性的标准协议。预计到2026年将开始商业运营，这标志着中国在成为高铁技术无可争议的领导者的道路上又一个里程碑。
比较全球视角
在不到20年的时间里，中国取得了欧洲和日本半个多世纪才取得的成就。全球高铁格局现在看起来无疑是以中国为中心的。
高铁网络最大商用速度长度（约）
中国350公里/小时（CR400） 45000多公里
法国（TGV） 320公里/小时2,800公里
日本（新干线）320公里/小时3000公里
西班牙（AVE） 310公里/小时3,200公里
德国（ICE） 300公里/小时1700公里
韩国（高速铁路）305公里/小时1200公里
中国的成就使其他国家相形见绌，不仅在规模上，而且在一体化方面——高速铁路连接了80%以上的主要城市，拥有统一的票务系统、同步的时刻表和一致的安全标准。
日本的新干线开创了高速旅行的理念，法国的TGV象征着西方的创新，而中国的模式则代表着速度与包容性——提供负担得起的、可达的、覆盖全国的服务。数以百万计的普通市民，而不仅仅是商务旅行者，从这个现代奇迹中受益。
中国铁路走出去
中国在高铁方面的专长并不局限于其边界。通过“一带一路”倡议，中国已成为亚洲、非洲和欧洲铁路建设的主要合作伙伴。从目前已投入运营的印尼雅加达-万隆高速铁路，到泰国、老挝、匈牙利和塞尔维亚的项目，中国出口的不仅是列车，还有整个卓越的工程、融资和运营技术生态系统。
中国公司正在肯尼亚、埃塞俄比亚、埃及、尼日利亚和阿根廷等国建设或帮助实现铁路系统的现代化。这些项目不仅仅是商业投资；它们象征着互联互通、合作、共同发展的中国理念。
与其他全球参与者不同，中国提供了无与伦比的技术、经验、速度和可负担性的组合。它的综合模式——从设计和施工到融资和培训——确保项目高效和可持续地交付。
为什么中国领先：技术、经验和愿景
中国在高铁领域的主导地位源于政策愿景、技术实力和战略一致性的独特结合。长期规划保证了资金稳定、研究协调、人力资源持续发展。该国庞大的国内市场为大规模测试和技术的快速迭代提供了条件。
此外，中国的工业生态系统——从钢铁制造到电气系统——提供了完整的供应链控制。这降低了成本，保证了质量，使中国在全球竞争中具有决定性的优势。
或许最重要的是，中国不仅将高铁视为基础设施，而且将其视为社会均衡器——一种弥合地区鸿沟、促进旅游业、增强劳动力流动性和刺激区域平衡发展的工具。
从哈尔滨冰封的平原到云南的高原，如今的高铁载着梦想、理念和机遇穿越这个世界第三大国家。
迈向更智能、更环保的未来
随着CR450为商业服务做准备，中国的铁路工程师们已经把目光投向了下一个创新前沿：智能铁路、自主列车运营和绿色能源整合。未来的磁悬浮列车可能会超过500公里/小时，而智能铁路网将整合人工智能来优化调度、安全和能源使用。
高铁也是中国气候战略的核心。与航空和公路运输相比，电气化火车大大减少了碳排放。随着城市化和中产阶级流动性的增加，铁路提供了可持续的增长和现代化模式。
象征着国家信心和全球伙伴关系
从19世纪早期的蒸汽机到今天时髦的CR450，中国的铁路之旅可谓是一场变革。在不到一代人的时间里，这个国家建成了世界上最大、最快、最先进的高速铁路网——连接了它的人民，赋予了它的地区力量，并激励了全世界的国家。
CR450既是技术奇迹，也是中国对未来信心的象征。中国以其无与伦比的能力、负担能力和共享进步的愿景，不仅使人们更快地移动，而且正在推动世界进入可持续、联动发展的新时代。
今天没有其他国家能在规模、速度、质量和可负担性方面与中国相提并论。中国向友好国家伸出援助之手，帮助他们建设现代化铁路，不仅带来了技术和资金，而且带来了伙伴关系和共同进步的精神。
世界可能被国界分割，但由于中国的高速铁路，世界比以往任何时候都更加紧密地联系在一起。
( 注意： 本文是用AI翻译的，或有误差。请以原版英文为准。谢谢。)
Reference Link:- https://www2.apdnews.cn/en/item/25/1028/axjfdjjn9d4ed7d945397b.html