On the rails to Laos: 1,035 kilometers, countless smiles

To mark the 65th anniversary of China-Laos diplomatic relations, 2026 has been designated as "The Year of China-Laos Friendship." As an important part of this friendship, the China-Laos Railway, operational for over four years, has become not only a transport backbone but also a vehicle to better livelihoods, a training ground for skilled workers, a green corridor, and a bridge of friendship.

At 8:08 a.m., the D87 international passenger train pulls out of Kunming South Station, heading southward along the 1,035-kilometer China-Laos Railway. Inside, travelers of different nationalities gaze out of windows or chat in low voice, their sporadic laughter mingling with the rhythmic clatter of wheels on rails.

This "Iron Silk Road," stretching from Kunming, capital city of southwest China's Yunnan Province to Laos' capital Vientiane, is a flagship project synergizing the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with Laos's strategy of transforming from a landlocked country to a land-linked one.

Since its inauguration in December 2021, the railway has carried over 70 million passengers and transported more than 80 million tons of cargoes. Behind these figures are countless grateful people, uplifted by connectivity.

A Golden Passage Benefiting People

Laos is known as the "Roof of the Indochina Peninsula." Its rugged mountains create stunning scenery but also formidable barriers. The bumpy road trip from Vientiane to Luang Prabang, a popular tourism city, used to take six to eight hours; and during the rainy season, that could stretch to several days.

Today, a steel artery spanning over 1,000 kilometers makes life much easier.

"The [China-Laos] railway operates 10 stations across Laos, covering major cities like Vientiane and Luang Prabang and also connecting many smaller towns," said Phoutvanh Chanthaphansay, a Lao government official. "It is truly a 'golden passage' benefiting both peoples."

At Vientiane South Station, the only dedicated freight hub on the Lao section and its largest cargo terminal, station chief Wang Guoquan told China Today, "During the peak fruit season from April to August, we run two to three fruit special [trains] daily. So far this year, we have shipped 1,700 tons of fresh fruit in 903 containers."

Just 3.9 km away, at a transshipment yard, cranes transfer crates of fresh durian from Thailand's meter gauge tracks to the railway's standard gauge for shipment to China. Wang Shihao, logistics manager at Haofeng International Logistics, broke down the economics: "It used to take five to seven days to transport durian to China, with high spoilage. Now, they reach Kunming from Vientiane in 26 hours, with spoilage below 3 percent," he said. The 80-percent reduction in transit time means Southeast Asian fruit arrives at Chinese consumers' tables at peak freshness.

Even more striking is the shift in cargo mix. In the first quarter of this year, China's "new trio" of exports – new-energy vehicles, lithium batteries, and photovoltaic products – to Laos surged more than 10-fold year-on-year, with photovoltaic products skyrocketing 43.2-fold. The railway is fast evolving from a resource channel into a diversified industrial coordination corridor.

Cross-border freight trains now run up to 23 times daily (up from two at launch), with each train's hauling capacity rising from 2,000 to 2,800 tons. The logistics network spans 31 Chinese provinces and 19 countries and regions, including Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam, handling over 3,800 product categories and serving more than 6,000 Chinese enterprises.

Behind the data lies a profound regional shift. Freight costs from Kunming to Thailand via Laos have fallen 30 to 50 percent, and transport costs inside Laos are down 20 to 40 percent. More than 40 industrial and logistics parks are planned along the line, accelerating the formation of hubs for steel, nonferrous metals, and rubber.

In 2025, annual cargo transport reached 24.48 million tons, up 96.3 percent from 2022. The import-export value hit RMB 6.81 billion (US $940 million) in the first quarter of 2026, a 62.7-percent year-on-year jump.

Cross-Border Train Travel Goes Mainstream

"Lately, the cross-border trains have been packed. We've been incredibly busy," said Han Jialing, a chief conductor on the international service. The railway links popular destinations including Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang, and China's Xishuangbanna, Pu'er, and Kunming. During the November-to-April peak tourist season, Lao-section trains run near capacity.

For Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, the railway's significance extends beyond travel. "It has turned Xishuangbanna from a remote backwater into a frontier of openness," said Yu Bankan, deputy director of the prefecture's culture and tourism bureau. In 2025 alone, the prefecture welcomed nearly 73 million tourists, generating over RMB 80 billion (US $11 billion) in revenue. Overseas arrivals reached 674,100, surging over 110 percent year-on-year.

Luang Prabang Station, the busiest passenger hub on the Laos section, blends the iconic roof of Wat Xieng Thong with Buddhist elements from the former royal palace. "Since opening, the station has dispatched 4.36 million passengers and received 4.03 million," station chief Yin Zhaoliang told China Today. The tourism boom has generated ripple effect on the local economy: local hotels have more than tripled, with 7,000 new rooms expected this year; over 400 shuttle buses meet each train, providing stable income for more than 500 drivers. Currently, 87 percent of visitors to this UNESCO World Heritage city arrive by rail.

In the waiting hall, Claire, a French national who has lived in Vientiane for 12 years, was traveling with her husband, two children, and parents to Xishuangbanna. "Last year, we flew to Guangzhou and Shenzhen. This year, we chose the railway to Yunnan. The journey has been wonderful, almost like a honeymoon," she said.

Vientiane Station incorporates sandalwood tones and dok champa (plumeria) motifs, and its ceiling combines Chinese knots with the Lao national flower, symbolizing enduring friendship. Multilingual services and diverse payment options cater to international travelers.

By April 2026, cumulative cross-border passengers had surpassed 800,000 from over 120 countries. During this year's Chinese New Year, cross-border travelers reached 12,900 in number, up 41.8 percent. The figure for the first quarter totaled 112,000, a 32.4-percent increase. During April's Songkran water festival peak travel season, daily cross-border travelers exceeded 1,000 in number.

Laos' First Railway Generation

The railway's impact transcends goods and people – it is forging a homegrown workforce and helping people achieve their dreams.

Wen Pengyu, a Lao youth, treasures his ticket from the inaugural run on December 3, 2021. "It has Lao script, and the crew spoke Lao. I felt very much at home." Wen came to China to study in 2016, fell in love with Chinese culture, and now teaches Lao at Yunnan Minzu University. "Before the railway, the bus trip from Vientiane to Kunming took a day and a half. Now, it's just over 10 hours," he said.

For Lao girl Wen Tong, the railway changed everything. Born in 1997, she grew up hearing her uncle's regret: he had studied railway engineering abroad, but Laos had no railway, so he never worked in his beloved profession. "When the China-Laos Railway Company began recruiting, I didn't hesitate," she said.

In 2021, Wen Tong met Chinese chief conductor Dai Rui, who trained her and other Lao staff by blending service standards with local folklore and music. From a shy young lady to chief conductor a year later, Wen Tong, said her proudest moment came in 2023, when her 92-year-old grandmother rode her train from Luang Prabang to Vientiane, fulfilling a lifelong wish. For Wen Tong, at that moment her uncle's regret, grandmother's wish and her own determination all came full circle.

During three-plus years in Laos, Dai Rui has trained 98 Lao conductors and 18 train chiefs. Now, she works on the Fuxing high-speed train from Kunming, while her Lao former trainees now run the Lancang high-speed train from Vientiane.

Lao locomotive driver Liu Yinneng, a young man from Bokeo Province, first studied Chinese at a university in Sichuan. In 2020, he saw a railway recruitment ad. "From that day, I was bound to the railway," he said. After intense training on the demanding Lao section with its steep gradients and long tunnels, he became one of Laos' first train drivers in August 2024.

Chen Heshi, a local from Luang Prabang, rose from a rookie with zero railway knowledge to managerial role as comprehensive affairs assistant at Luang Prabang Station, one of the first Lao employees to reach such a position.

By July 2025, track worker Hu Mingqiang, who joined knowing nothing about railways, was promoted after three years of dedicated work to today's manage over 300 Lao staff. His four brothers followed him into railway maintenance, too.

According to the railway's operator – China State Railway Group – the share of Lao employees on the line has reached 67 percent. Many small stations are now fully managed by Lao staff; 24 Lao have moved into management, and 780 work independently, helping them become responsible for their own destinies.

Behind this talent development lies a system built from scratch. The Laos Railway Technical College, built with Chinese assistance, is Southeast Asia's first railway vocational institution. It has established a "One plus N" technical regulation system and formulated Laos' first railway technical standards.

Elephant Guardians in the Rainforest

In Xishuangbanna's tropical rainforest, the railway is involved in another special mission: coexisting with Asian elephants. The 29 workers safeguarding this 58-kilometer stretch are known as "elephant guardians."

"This is the only transnational line in China that runs so closely with Asian elephants," said Huang Yunhai, a team leader. "We must ensure safe passenger travel without disturbing the elephants."

From the design phase, "bridge-for-road" construction created exclusive elephant passages, while sound barriers and upgraded fencing prevent intrusion without causing injury. Over four years, the team has handled over 10 elephant herd projects and completed 200-plus ecological inspections.

"Asian elephants have path dependence. Protecting their corridors reduces railway encounters. Protecting elephants means protecting railway safety," Huang explained. His "Three-Elephant Work Method" – track inspection, early warning, and path maintenance – exemplifies harmonious coexistence.

This steel Silk Road is safeguarding rainforest giants with technology and compassion, and also setting a new standard for green development in Belt and Road cooperation.

From logistics manager Wang Shihao's durian coldchain trains to French tourist Claire's family "honeymoon"; from Wen Tong's proud smile to Wen Pengyu's treasured ticket; from Chen Heshi's careful operations to driver Liu Yinneng's focused gaze; from Huang Yunhai's elephant corridors to Hu Mingqiang and his four brothers maintaining tracks at night – there is abundant pride and joy along this railway. In the process, it is adding momentum to the already close relationship between the China-Laos community, ensuring a shared future and writing the latest chapter in the new Silk Road era.