Reform drives nation along path to prosperity

Forty years ago, bicycles and pedicabs of all sizes and colors packed China’s streets. Private cars were rarely seen and taxis didn’t exist. Intercity travelers spent days on crowded trains, while air travel was a luxury most people could not afford.

Today, private cars jam the nation’s roads. Subway systems across the country are packed with commuters who can also hail cars via smartphone apps at any time. High-speed trains dash between cities, and airlines carry billions of passengers to their destinations every year.

The remarkable changes in China’s transportation system during the past four decades are among the most noticeable results of the reform and opening-up policy, which started in 1978.

China is now home to the world’s most modern railway system and the most developed high-speed rail network.

According to the Ministry of Transport, high-speed railways cover 65 percent of cities with populations of more than 1 million.

The Qinghai-Tibet railway, completed in 2006, is the world’s highest, and the Beijing-Shanghai highspeed line, which opened in 2011, is the fastest and longest commercial line on the planet.

Highway construction has also advanced greatly. In 1978, the total length of China’s highways was just 890,000 kilometers, compared with 4,773,500 km by the end of last year. Expressways stretch for 136,500 km, meaning 99.99 percent of townships and 99.98 percent of villages are accessible by road.

China’s civil aviation industry has also made considerable progress. By the end of last year, 229 civil airports were operating, compared with 78 in 1978. Passenger volume was 550 million trips and passenger turnover was 951.2 billion per km.

In addition, 127,000 km of inland waterways are open to traffic, and there are 27,578 cargo berths at ports, compared with 735 in 1978. China is also home to seven of the world’s top 10 ports by cargo and container throughput.

Urban transportation systems have also seen huge changes as a result of the rapid urbanization process. Ride-hailing services and shared bicycles have gained in popularity, and 34 cities have subways and overground rail networks.

The government aims to transform China into a strong transportation nation, according to goals proposed at the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in October last year. Further construction will be focused on poverty-stricken areas, and roads in impoverished rural areas will be the main targets for improvement.

“Developed transportation has always been a symbol of national strength,” said Hu Xijie, a former viceminister of transport. “In the new era, we should endeavor to build a modern and comprehensive transportation system that is safe, convenient, efficient, green and economical to meet people’s growing need for a better life.”

127,000

229

27, 578 31,862

2017 2012 2007 735 1978