The Hotan-Ruoqiang Project in Xinjiang Begins Operations, Marking the Launch of the World’s First Railway Surrounding a Desert.
The China State Railway Group (CR) announced on June 15 that it is ready to operate the entire 2,712 km railway surrounding the Taklimakan Desert, following the official opening of the final section connecting the Hotan region in western Xinjiang to Ruoqiang County in the southeast on Thursday.
A test train runs on the Hotan-Ruoqiang line in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region. (Photo: CR)
The Hotan-Ruoqiang project spans 825 km, with 524 km traversing sandy regions, accounting for 65% of its total length. The railway is designed for speeds of up to 120 km/h and includes 22 stations.
Located on the southern edge of the world’s second-largest shifting sand desert, the Hotan-Ruoqiang railway faced numerous challenges during both construction and operation.
To facilitate safe travel in areas prone to sandstorms, nearly 220 viaducts have been built along the route. Approximately 50 million cubic meters of grass mesh and 13 million seedlings have also been planted along the railway to combat desertification.
Starting ticket sales at midnight on June 16, the Hotan-Ruoqiang line will operate two passenger trains daily and eight freight trains, enabling the transport of cotton, walnuts, dates, minerals, and other goods.
The entire desert-circumventing railway will benefit over 10 million people in southern Xinjiang, including the Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, Kizilsu Kirghiz Autonomous Prefecture, and the districts of Aksu, Kashgar, and Hotan.
This project not only facilitates travel for the local population but also promotes economic development in the region. The new railway running through southern Xinjiang will enhance the flow of goods both domestically and internationally. It is likely to be the shortest route for transporting goods from China to Europe and the Middle East, reducing the journey by 900 km and saving travel time by 7 to 8 days.
As of the end of 2021, the total operational length of railways across China exceeded 150,000 km, including over 40,000 km of high-speed rail.
