十三五规划:中国的交通运输网络

China is building a transport system in line with its fast pace of development, made up of super highways, bullet trains and new and extended subway lines. We now take a look at the country’s plan for the construction of new transportation links during the 13th Five-Year Plan period.

China's transportation network is moving into a new phase. It's now championing the concept of “Extensive Coverage”.

At the moment, it constitutes only about one-sixth of China's entire rail network. Four western provinces -- and nearly 40% of the country's prefecture-level cities -- have yet to see a high-speed rail service. But, over the next five years, China is to extend its network to 30,000 kilometers and link up about 80% of its large cities.

Of the 12 new lines proposed, 10 will be in the west of the country. Kunming, the capital city of south-west China's Yunnan Province -- which hasn't any high-speed rail connection to this point -- will soon have four! Travel times to cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou -- which may have taken over a day in the past -- will now be possible in just ten hours.

China will also form an inter-city rail network across the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Yangtze River Delta, the Pearl River Delta, the Mid-Yangtze Delta, Central China, the Chengdu-Chongqing region and the Shandong Peninsula.

When the Beijing-Zhangjiakou high-speed railway is completed for the 2022 Winter Olympics, it will take about 50 minutes to go from one city to another -- that's faster than traversing the capital's Chang'an Avenue by subway.

But it's not all about rail development. Over the next five years, more than half of the new or renovated highways will be constructed in undeveloped and remote areas. The project will include more than 40 percent of China's counties. About 67,000 kilometers of national roads, more than half a million kilometers of rural roads and 15,000 kilometers of rebuilt bridges will guarantee every village is networked. It will give the country's existing population a chance to shake off the shackles of poverty.

Public transportation is playing a very important role in relieving traffic congestion and other urban diseases. Over the next five years, in a city of more than one million, you will be able to take a bus from within 500 meters of your home.

In a city of more than three million, a light rail or subway may pass not far away from your residence. It is hoped that high-speed rail networks, inter-city subway networks and airports will be integrated as an open, multi-level and comprehensive passenger terminal. The day of “free transfer with one ticket” is near.

Meanwhile, personnel and freight transportation will have less obstructions. It all means everyone will be able to move around more efficiently for a more prosperous society.