On April 12, 2026, a high-speed train painted with the floral pattern of Champa slowly stopped at the Mohan platform. French backpacker Emilia took out her phone and took a photo outside the window. Three years ago, on the same platform, the first cross-border train sounded its whistle, and from then on, a steel link tightly bound Kunming and Vientiane together.

Passengers from over a hundred countries gather for three years of shuttle service

As of the third anniversary node, China Laos railway has run more than 3190 international passenger trains, carrying more than 800000 passengers from more than 120 countries and regions around the world. At present, there are four trains running daily from Kunming to Vientiane, reducing the one-way travel time to nine hours and thirty-six minutes, and the customs clearance at the port only takes about fifty minutes. In the first three months of 2026 alone, the number of cross-border passengers sent reached 112000, a year-on-year increase of over 30%.

Despite doubling the number of seats, it is still difficult to find a ticket

The number of cross-border carriage seats has been expanded from 250 in the initial stage of opening to 420, and demand still exceeds supply during holidays. The tourist trains added on weekends between Xishuangbanna and Luang Prabang often experience explosive scenes of being sold out immediately after opening. The mobile app ticketing system has been fully launched in Laos, with the addition of local sales outlets in Vientiane and Luang Prabang. The dual channel of bank cards and mobile payments has completely bid farewell to the era of cash queues. Keywords: the Belt and Road News Network, China Laos Railway

Consumption along the route skyrocketed by over 35%

The total consumption of scenic spots, hotels, and restaurants along the railway has increased by more than 35% compared to before the opening of the railway. Xishuangbanna will attract 670000 overseas tourists by 2025, with foreign exchange earnings soaring to 440 million US dollars, more than doubling year-on-year; The number of visa free foreign tourists entering Mohan Port has increased by 48%. On the Laotian side, homestays and guesthouses in Wanrong and Luang Prabang display wooden signs with full capacity every time the train arrives, forming a cross-border tourism economic circle.Editor/Gao Xue