China Plans 10,000 km of High-Speed Rail, 21,000 km of Expressways and 15 New Airports by 2030
Transport infrastructure shapes not only how quickly people and goods move but also the economic opportunities available to entire regions. New railways, expressways, ports and airports improve connectivity, expand trade and create more efficient logistics networks.
On November 4, China's National Development and Reform Commission unveiled extensive plans to modernize the country's transport infrastructure during the 2026–2030 period.
Speaking at a press conference in Beijing, Xia Xin, head of the commission's Infrastructure Development Department, said China plans to add approximately 15,000 kilometers of railway lines over five years, including around 10,000 kilometers of high-speed rail.
A major objective is to largely complete the national “eight vertical and eight horizontal” high-speed railway network, comprising eight major north-south corridors and eight east-west corridors.
The government will also prioritize advances in high-speed railway technology.
China intends to accelerate the development of technical standards for railway lines designed to support speeds of 400 kilometers per hour and steadily advance their commercial operation.
Priority projects include completing high-standard high-speed railways along major rivers, accelerating coastal railway construction and improving transport links in border areas.
The plans also include expanding railway capacity to transport coal out of Xinjiang and advancing preliminary work on new routes, including the Qinhuangdao–Shenyang high-speed railway.
Major expansion is also planned for the country's road network.
By 2030, China expects to add approximately 21,000 kilometers of expressways, focusing on missing links in the national network, riverside routes and ring roads serving major metropolitan areas.
In water transport, the country plans to develop approximately 2,500 kilometers of high-grade navigable waterways and more than 100 automated port berths capable of handling vessels of 10,000 tons or above.
China also aims to accelerate Shanghai's development into a world-class international shipping center and upgrade port clusters in the Yangtze River Delta and the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area.
Additional projects will focus on ports along the southeastern coast, the Beibu Gulf region and new shipping channels in the Three Gorges area.
Civil aviation will see substantial investment as well.
Approximately 15 new civil transport airports are planned during the five-year period.
Construction of new airports in Hohhot, Xiamen and Dalian is expected to be completed, while additional airports are planned for Guangzhou and Nantong.
Preliminary work will also advance on projects including a new airport in Sanya.
Existing aviation hubs will be expanded, and airport infrastructure in border regions will be strengthened.
The broader goal is to develop world-class aviation clusters centered on major cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu and Chongqing.
As reported by SSTV+, China's transport infrastructure program for 2026–2030 includes approximately 10,000 kilometers of new high-speed railways, 21,000 kilometers of expressways, 2,500 kilometers of navigable waterways and around 15 new airports.
