Vientiane South Station: The Heart of Trade
The Vientiane South Railway Freight Terminal is adorned with red decorations in celebration of the Spring Festival. In the early hours of the morning, a freight train from China’s Yunnan province arrives at the station, while cranes prepare to unload refrigerated containers. These containers hold fruits bound for China—some grown in Laos and others transported here from Thailand by road.
Railway Workers on Holiday Duty
One of the local station employees, Alee, who completed his education in China, is spending his fourth New Year on the China-Laos Railway. “Traditionally, the Spring Festival was not celebrated in Laos, but after working here, I became more familiar with Chinese culture. Now, thanks to my Chinese colleagues, I’ve even learned how to make dumplings,” he says.
Supporting the New Year Market with Fast Transport
During the holiday season, at least one “Lancang-Mekong Express” freight train operates daily on the China-Laos Railway. Departing from Vientiane, these trains transport New Year goods to major Chinese cities such as Kunming, Chengdu, Chongqing, and Huaihua. To ensure the freshness of cold-chain fruits, the trains run at a speed of 120 km/h.
China-Laos Railway: A Driver of Regional Development
In 2024, the annual fruit transport volume on the China-Laos Railway reached 15.3 million tons, with expectations to surpass 20 million tons in 2025. Thanks to the railway’s fast and reliable logistics advantages, agricultural products from Southeast Asian countries reach the Chinese market more quickly, while Chinese consumers enjoy a wider variety of choices.