Lanzhou–Xinjiang High-Speed Railway Opens

December 26, 2014 marked the opening of the Lanzhou–Xinjiang High-Speed Railway, a 1,776‑kilometer corridor connecting Lanzhou in Gansu Province with Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. This was the world’s first high‑speed railway to traverse such long stretches of arid and seismically active terrain, requiring thousands of kilometers of wind‑break structures, sand shields, and embankment stabilization projects. The new line cut travel time from over 20 hours to under 12 and dramatically expanded mobility across northwest China. Strategically, it strengthened economic integration between Xinjiang and eastern provinces, supporting development initiatives along the historic Silk Road corridor. Technologically, it proved that high‑speed rail could be successfully engineered for extreme environments and laid the groundwork for future expansion toward Central Asia. The line remains one of China’s most ambitious high‑speed engineering accomplishments.