At the end of 2016, China's high-speed rail network stood at 22,000km.

According to a comprehensive transport plan approved earlier this year by the State Council, China's cabinet, the high-speed rail network will reach 30,000km by 2020. This will effectively double the grid network already created so that there will be eight east-west and eight north-south lines.

Accelerating railway development, particularly investment in the central and western regions, is key for China's strategy to stabilize growth, adjust economic structure, increase efficient investment and expand consumption," the plan says.

Besides these major lines, China is planning some short-distance lines to add to the high-speed network by 2020. When the 2020 target has been reached, more than 80% of cities with a population of more than one million will be served by high-speed train.