The Harbin-Yichun High-Speed Railway carried 453,000 passengers in its first month of operation, according to China Railway Harbin Group. The line, which is the northernmost high-speed rail in China, now connects Harbin, Suihua, and Yichun within a half-day travel circle, reducing the fastest trip between Harbin and Yichun to 1 hour and 46 minutes.
Did You Know? The Harbin-Yichun High-Speed Railway is the first high-speed line in China to traverse a high-cold island-like frozen soil zone, facing winter temperatures that can drop to minus 40 degrees Celsius.
Harbin-Yichun Line Reaches One-Month Milestone
The 318-kilometer railway has a design speed of 250 kilometers per hour. During the National Day holiday, the line averaged 35 EMU trains per day, with daily passenger traffic exceeding 20,000 and total holiday ridership topping 150,000, according to China Railway Harbin Group.
To handle the extreme environment, the railway group implemented 51 high-cold adaptability modifications to the train sets. Engineers continue to monitor equipment data in frozen soil sections and track icing patterns on the overhead contact network to maintain safety.
Rail Networks Connect Autumn Landscapes Nationwide
Beyond the north, high-speed rail lines are facilitating travel through diverse ecological zones during the autumn harvest. In Heilongjiang’s Hailin and Tangyuan counties, trains pass through vast rice fields where harvesters are active. Similar scenes are reported in Zhejiang’s Jiaxing, where Hexie trains run alongside ripening crops.
Travelers in Guizhou’s Kaili and Longli, as well as Ningxia’s Yinchuan, have reported trains passing through flower seas, including golden chrysanthemum bases and sunflower fields.
New Railway Line Triggers Surge in Travel Interest
The opening of the northern line has triggered a surge in travel interest. Data from the Tongcheng Travel platform shows a significant increase in searches for keywords such as “Yichun,” “Xiao Hinggan Mountains,” and “Finding the North,” with tourists arriving from Beijing, Shanghai, and Shandong.
The institute expects "autumn leaf hunting" to evolve from a seasonal trend into a permanent tourism brand between mid-October and early November.
Rail-Driven Tourism Prospects
Railway staff on the Harbin-Yichun line have already begun acting as tourism promoters, using service teams like “Qingluan” and “Lin Zhixin” to introduce local delicacies and sightseeing spots to passengers.
How Long Does It Take to Travel from Harbin to Yichun Now?
How long does it take to travel from Harbin to Yichun now?
The fastest travel time between Harbin and Yichun is now 1 hour and 46 minutes via the new high-speed railway.
What technical challenges does the Harbin-Yichun railway face?
The line operates in a high-cold frozen soil zone where winter temperatures can reach minus 40 degrees Celsius, requiring 51 specific adaptability modifications to the trains.
Which cities are now part of the “half-day life circle” due to this line?
Harbin, Suihua, and Yichun have all entered the high-speed rail half-day life circle.
Would you choose a high-speed rail journey specifically for the autumn scenery?
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