China-Laos Railway Hits 487K Cross-Border Passengers in 2 Years

All aboard the connectivity express! The China-Laos Railway, a cornerstone of the Belt and Road Initiative, has welcomed 487,000 cross-border passengers from 112 countries and regions since its international service launched in 2023. That’s enough people to fill over 60 football stadiums!

Boosting Tourism & Trade

This 1,035-kilometer track links Kunming (China’s Yunnan Province) with Vientiane (Laos’ capital), slashing travel time between the two cities to just 9.5 hours – roughly the length of a Netflix binge-watch session.

To meet soaring demand, cross-border trains now run 6 days a week, skipping only Wednesdays. Each train’s capacity has jumped from 250 to 390 seats, with daily travelers peaking at 1,300 – a 330% increase!

Streamlining Adventures

• Customs wait times cut from 90 to 50 minutes
• Multilingual police assist travelers at Mohan border checkpoint
• Cultural tips and ‘must-try’ local dishes shared onboard

Since its 2021 debut, this railway has become a lifeline for regional economies and cultural exchanges. As one traveler tweeted last week: ‘It’s like the Hogwarts Express, but for Southeast Asian adventures!’

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China-Laos Railway carries 487,000 cross-border passengers in 2 years

cgtn.com