The Expanding High-speed Rail Economy of China拓展中的中国高铁经济

丹尼尔·海厄特　常玉田

The opening of the high-speed rail link between Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland has once again brought the economic benefits of this new age technology into the limelight. A long way since 1876， when the first commercial train was launched in China， this new catalyst for continued economic growth is gradually becoming the norm.

The network is changing China in many ways. Like railway towns that sprouted along the tracks in 19th century Britain and America， urban growth in China too is following the rail lines. Offices， residential areas and shopping districts which were non-existent only a decade back， are mushrooming as lines continue to be built.

Adjacent to congested commercial cities， where house prices are comparatively high， bullet trains have created new satellite towns. All the amenities of large metropolises are available to these towns through their fast transport links. Local governments find it especially helpful to efficiently manage large， but not oversized cities.

This high-speed railway network has resulted in the creation of business opportunities. It is an extensive eco-system that is generating profits not merely through the sale of tickets but through its overall economy-boosting capacity which is driving China forward despite international financial turmoil like the recession of the 2000s and protectionist moves of this year. At the same time， it is redistributing economic activities across the country and revising traditional business models.

Remote cities which previously used to carry out commercial activities in isolation are now connected with large industrial zones. Meanwhile， the cities in close proximity sharing common industrial capabilities are forming economic clusters and building on their mutual expertise.

Economic imbalances between China’s east and west are also fading. By way of the increased connectivity， lesser developed regions like Xinjiang are catching up with developed regions. The province， previously lagging in economic growth， has transformed into a major logistics center of the Belt and Road Initiative （BRI）. Its capital city， Urumqi， is today a prime destination for businessmen from the east to conduct export-related affairs.

Individual businesses are also expanding in the deeply integrated economy as stakeholders from the service and manufacturing sectors become closer. Labor is increasingly flexible， and consumers are ever willing to travel to other cities.

Business seekers from foreign countries find it easier to travel deeper and further in China to reach the right manufacturers. Interior cities， which have lower wages than the developed east coast， are more attractive now with increased connectivity and accessibility.

With their increased passenger handling capacity， the high-speed trains are taking the burden off regular-speed tracks. This provides added space for freight transportation， bringing in extra energy supplies to factories located deep in the mainland and taking an additional amount of their manufactured goods out to the ports.

Another major aspect of this futuristic system is its impact on holiday travel. The national travel spree that takes place every year with the Lunar New Year has often been called the world’s largest migration. Contrary to the experiences of the past where it took days for the government to cater for this colossal surge， the new network can better accommodate the load.

China’s social environment is changing as well. People who used to visit their loved ones less often due to the long distances are now traveling more frequently. This is improving the already strong structure of Chinese society that is ingrained in well-established familial links.

The tourism industry has also been boosted by the high-speed train network. People can now make trips to places which couldn’t be reached before over a weekend. Similarly， they have greater access to remote areas and less explored regions of the country. Consequently， there has been a massive economic inflow at tourist destinations where the lives of people connected to the industry have been dramatically improved.

Gratefully， the government has not set fares in line with the trains’ speed. A one-way trip from Beijing to Shanghai， for example， costs a mere 80 dollars. This is an essential prerequisite for the venture to be successful. On the other hand， income levels have been constantly rising， thus reducing the affordability gap.

High-speed trains are significantly contributing to China’s economic and social growth. In reaching Hong Kong， it now provides Hong Kong with better integration to the BRI and with the Greater Bay Area. As the network continues to expand， it will not be long until all regions of the country will start progressing at the same interdependent pace.

中國香港与内地之间的高速铁路开通了，高铁这一新时代技术的经济效益再次引起了关注。中国第一条商用列车早在1876年开始运营，而今高铁逐步成为常用的新型交通工具，推动了经济持续增长。

高速铁路网络正以多种方式改变着中国。在19世纪的英国和美国，许多城镇在铁路沿线发展起来;今日中国的城镇化与此类似，也沿着铁路线蓬勃发展。10年前还没有写字楼、住宅区和商业区，这些正随着铁路的持续建设而如雨后春笋般出现。

拥挤的商业城市里，房价相对较高。在邻近这些城市的地方，随着高铁的开通出现了许多新的卫星城镇。这些城镇借助于快速的交通连接，也可享受大城市所有的便利设施。地方政府发现，可以借此高效地管理规模适中的大城市。

高铁网络创造了许多商业机会。高铁是一个广阔的生态系统，不仅通过出售车票营利，还能拉动整体经济，创造利润。尽管本世纪前10年因为经济衰退而出现国际金融危机，尽管今年美国对华采取了一系列贸易保护主义动作，但高铁这种拉动能力推动着中国经济向前发展。与此同时，因为高铁，全国的经济活动得以重新配置，传统的商业模式得以不断修整。

以前一度在隔离状态中开展商业活动的偏远城市，现已与大型工业区连接起来了。同时，彼此相邻且工业能力相当的城市正在形成经济集群，并在相同的专业基础上壮大了规模。

中国东西部之间的经济失衡也在逐渐消失。通过提升连通性，新疆等欠发达地区正在赶上发达地区。新疆此前经济增长滞后，如今已变成“一带一路”倡议中的一大物流中心，其首府乌鲁木齐已是东部商人办理出口相关事务的主要目的地。

服务业和制造业中的利益相关者相互距离更近之后，个体企业在深度整合的经济中也在扩大经营。劳动力流动越来越活泛，消费者也更愿意前往其他城市消费。

国外来华寻求商机的人士发现，为找到合适的制造商而前往遥远的中国内地越来越容易了。内陆城市的工资低于发达的东部沿海地区，现在随着连通性和可达性的提升，其吸引力也更大了。

随着载客能力的提高，高铁减轻了常规铁路的运输负担，从而为货运提供了更多空间，可为深处内地的工厂输送更多的能源供应，并将其更多的产品运往沿海港口。

高铁这一未来运输系统的另一个主要影响在假日旅行方面。每个农历新年都会出现的全国旅行狂潮常被视为世界上最大的人口流动。过去，政府需要数天时间来应对这种巨大的浪涌，但这样的经历已成过往，新的高铁网络可以更好地满足客运需求。

中国的社会环境也在变化。过去由于距离遥远，人们不那么经常拜访亲人，现在旅行探亲则更为频繁，从而强化了建立在完善的家族联系中且原本就很牢固的社会结构。

高铁网络也促进了旅游业的发展。以往人们无法踏足的地方，现在一个周末就可以游玩。同样，他们可以更方便地前往偏远地区和较少探索的地方。因此，各旅游目的地均有大量的经济输入，旅游业相关人员的生活得到了显著改善。

政府并没有因为高铁速度加快而设定高票价，这一点令人感念。例如，从北京到上海的单程票价仅为80美元。票价低廉是高铁这一项目成功的先决条件。另一方面，人们的收入水平不断上升，从而降低了负担能力上的差距。

高铁对中国经济和社会的发展做出了重大貢献。现在香港已通高铁，可以更好地参与“一带一路”倡议以及融入粤港澳大湾区。随着高铁网络的不断扩大，要不了多长时间，中国的所有地区都将相互依存，同步发展。