An inaugural run of train G3351 on January 26 heralded the first direct high-speed rail connection between Yan'an and Zunyi, two cities steeped in China’s revolutionary history. The service marks a practical and symbolic linking of two “red” strongholds, opening a faster corridor through the country’s interior and signalling a new phase of inter-regional connectivity.
The new link spans roughly 1,230 kilometres and reduces journey times between the two cities from more than 16 hours to just over eight. The route threads together a string of major hubs — including Yan'an, Xi'an, Chengdu and Chongqing before reaching Zunyi — and strengthens ties between the Chengdu–Chongqing economic area and central Guizhou.
Rail operators frame the connection as more than a transport upgrade. China Railway Xi'an Group describes the link as a key step in optimising the national rail network and as a fresh opportunity to develop red cultural tourism and regional economic cooperation. Officials say the quicker movement of people, goods and information will supply “strong momentum” for higher-quality development in former revolutionary base areas.
Plans are already in motion to leverage the corridor for tourism and wider socio-economic projects: provincial authorities intend to roll out cross‑border red-tourism itineraries, deepen industrial collaboration, promote rural revitalisation and expand cultural exchanges. For visitors, the route promises easier access to museum exhibitions, historical sites and commemorative events that form part of the party-state’s living memory of the revolutionary era.
Beyond tourism, the connection has broader strategic value for regional integration. Faster travel can reshape logistics and labour links across western and central China, helping to distribute growth away from the eastern seaboard. That said, the ultimate payoff will depend on managing environmental and social impacts, sustaining ridership and ensuring that local communities capture the economic benefits rather than just serving as waystations for transit and sightseeing.