Much of the system was built from scratch during this period through massive state investment and long-term infrastructure planning. China now has by far the largest high-speed rail network in the world, accounting for more high-speed track than the rest of the world combined.
Chinaโs modern high-speed rail network expanded at an extraordinary pace between 2008 and 2020.
In 2008, only a handful of high-speed routes were operating. By 2020, the network stretched across most of the country, linking major cities with trains running at speeds of 200โ350