Railway passenger traffic hits record high in Jan-May

China's railway network handled 1.86 billion passenger trips in the first five months of the year, the national railway operator said.

This marks a year-on-year increase of 7.3 percent and a record high overall, according to data released by China State Railway Group Co Ltd recently.

In the same period, an average of 11,243 trains operated daily, up 7.5 percent year-on-year.

The highest daily passenger traffic this year was recorded on May 1, the first day of the five-day May Day holiday, with 13,752 trains put into operation and providing more than 23 million trips for passengers, the highest single-day records on both parameters, the company said.

As China further expands its visa-free policies for foreign nationals, the nation's railways have noted a growing number of foreign passengers. In the first five months of 2025, foreign nationals made 7.67 million train trips in China, up 29 percent year-on-year, the data showed.

Meanwhile, cross-border railway transport also recorded fast growth during the period. For instance, the China-Laos Railway recorded 124,000 passenger trips, representing an increase of 24.2 percent year-on-year, according to the data.

The country's transport infrastructure upgrade has seen major progress in recent years, with many projects that are key to regional integral development showing cutting-edge building techniques.

A masterpiece of modern engineering, the Beipanjiang Bridge, towering 565 meters above the Beipanjiang River, is a major conduit that connects the provinces of Guizhou and Yunnan in Southwest China.

The bridge, which officially opened in 2016, is among the highest globally, breaking many engineering records and showcasing China's commitment to infrastructure and innovation.

The bridge is a vital part of the Liupanshui-Hongguo Railway, and has reduced travel times and connected previously inaccessible regions with cutting-edge technology and bold engineering.

"State builders have accumulated rich experience in major infrastructure projects, at home and abroad, and are actively applying more high-tech building solutions, such as BIM (building information modeling) and modular construction, in projects nationwide. The quality of buildings and building efficiency have earned Chinese builders marvelous credentials in the infrastructure building sector," said Long Chaocan, an investment consultant with China Galaxy Securities Co Ltd.

For example, China Railway 24th Bureau Group Corp, a unit of China Railway Construction Corp, said its workers completed substructure work on the 300.96-meter Tangjiaba Bridge for the Nanchong-Tongnan Expressway recently, overcoming complex terrain and extreme heat. The State builder achieved millimeter-level precision connecting the bridge part with the expressway, and used dual concrete pump lines to ensure successful casting.

Facing mounting external pressure, China has been maintaining its focus on major projects, especially those concerning people's livelihoods, and leveraging infrastructure investment as a tool to secure steady growth.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, excluding the property sector, the country's fixed-asset investment grew 7.7 percent in the first five months of the year. Infrastructure investment rose 5.6 percent year-on-year during the period.

Xinhua contributed to this story.