Kunming – According to China Railway Kunming Group Co., Ltd., the China-Laos Railway has transported a total of 487,000 cross-border passengers from 112 countries and regions since the launch of its international passenger train service two years ago.
Stretching 1,035 kilometers, the railway links Kunming, the capital of southwest China’s Yunnan Province, with Vientiane, the capital of Laos. It has played a significant role in promoting regional economic development and enhancing people-to-people exchanges. The cross-border passenger service officially began on April 13, 2023, further cementing the railway’s position as a flagship project of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative.To accommodate growing demand, authorities have implemented several measures. These include increasing the frequency of international trains between Xishuangbanna in Yunnan and Laos’ Luang Prabang — two popular tourist destinations — from four to six days a week, excluding Wednesdays.
The number of cross-border passenger seats per train has risen from 250 to 390, while daily passenger traffic has surged from 300 to as high as 1,300. The travel time between Kunming South and Vientiane has been shortened by an hour to approximately 9 hours and 30 minutes. Customs clearance procedures at border checkpoints have also been streamlined, reducing wait times from 90 minutes to as little as 50 minutes.
At the Mohan border checkpoint, police officers proficient in foreign languages have been stationed to assist travelers with legal and policy information, local customs, tourism tips, and cuisine.