According to data recently released by China Railway Kunming Group Co., Ltd., the China-Laos Railway handled 244,000 cross-border passenger trips in the first eight months of this year—a year-on-year increase of over 50%—reflecting the continued popularity of the cross-border passenger transport market.
Since its official launch on December 3, 2021, the 1,035-kilometer China-Laos Railway has established a rapid overland link between Kunming, China, and Vientiane, Laos. As of early September this year, the railway had operated a total of 3,789 cross-border passenger trains and served 926,000 passengers. Travelers have come from more than 120 countries and regions worldwide, demonstrating the railway's growing international reach and influence.
On April 13, 2023, the launch of two-way international passenger train services between Kunming South Station and Vientiane fully opened up a rapid cross-border travel corridor, greatly facilitating tourism, business, and people-to-people exchanges between the two nations. Currently, four international passenger trains operate daily on the route, with the fastest journey taking just 9 hours and 36 minutes. Meanwhile, customs clearance efficiency has been continuously optimized; clearance time at the Mohan Railway Port has been reduced to approximately 50 minutes, significantly boosting cross-border travel efficiency.
As operations have matured, the China-Laos Railway has seen substantial growth in both cross-border passenger transport capacity and passenger volume. The number of seats available for cross-border passengers has increased from 250 at the time of launch to 420, while the average daily passenger volume has climbed from an initial 300 trips to a peak of 1,640, marking a significant enhancement in passenger-carrying capacity.
Leveraging its unique geographical location and route advantages, the China-Laos Railway connects renowned tourist cities such as Kunming, Xishuangbanna, and Vientiane. Serving over 560 scenic spots along the line, it has created a highly attractive economic corridor for cross-border tourism. During the summer peak travel season—spanning July 1 to September 1—the Mohan Railway Port saw impressive passenger traffic. Authorities processed over 57,000 inbound and outbound travelers from 72 countries and regions, marking a year-on-year increase of more than 51%, with the single-day peak volume exceeding 1,100 passengers.
Robust cross-border travel continues to invigorate the tourism, culture, and commercial sectors along the railway route. According to China Railway Kunming Group Co., Ltd., rising demand for cross-border tourism, business trips, and educational excursions has driven a year-on-year increase of over 35% in consumption across related industries—including tourist attractions, hotels, and dining—along the China-Laos Railway. Today, cross-border passenger transport has become a key growth engine for the high-quality operation of the China-Laos Railway, injecting enduring momentum into the deep integration of economic, trade, cultural, and tourism ties between the two nations.
