Meanwhile, the northernmost high-speed railway in China connects Harbin, a major ice-and-snow tourism destination, with Yichun, a popular summer retreat and forest tourism spot. It cuts railway travel time between these two cities from about seven hours to roughly two hours, making it easier for more tourists to include Yichun in their holiday plans.

　　"Yichun used to be a 'maybe' destination because getting there was a hassle, but thanks to the new high-speed rail, it's now a 'must-go'," said a Shanghai visitor surnamed Zheng, adding that the new line has made the stay of his family in Heilongjiang more colorful.

　　Wang Wei, director of the Yichun Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism, said the new railway will bring Yichun into Harbin's "two-hour economic circle," creating new opportunities for its winter tourism, forest study tours and forest wellness tourism.

　　Ma Botao, of the China Railway Economic Planning and Research Institute, said for cities newly connected to the railway network, seizing the opportunity depends on how well they position themselves.

　　"Generally, large cities focus on research and development, finance and headquarters economy, while small cities should leverage their local agriculture, ecology, tourism and distinctive industrial strengths to undertake supporting manufacturing, agricultural product processing, and wellness and cultural tourism, serving as both industrial supporting bases and leisure backyards for central cities," Ma explained.

　　Behind these expectations lies a network that keeps growing. By the end of 2025, the country's total operating railway mileage had reached 165,000 km, including more than 50,000 km of high-speed rail.