As of 2024, China had the longest high-speed rail network in the world.
China’s network reached about 48,000 kilometres by the end of 2024, far exceeding the high-speed systems of France, Spain and Japan. Its scale is the result of a national infrastructure programme that expanded rapidly after the first modern high-speed lines opened in the 2000s.
Planning began with China’s 2004 Medium- and Long-Term Railway Network Plan. The programme developed into a nationwide grid of major north–south and east–west corridors, connecting large cities and regional centres. Many lines are designed for 250 or 350 km/h operation, depending on route and conditions.
A common mix-up is confusing China’s total railway mileage with its high-speed mileage. China does not have the world’s longest railway network overall, but it does lead by a wide margin in high-speed rail. The network also includes some mixed-use or upgraded sections, so published totals can vary slightly by definition.