China's railway passenger trips up 6 pct in first three quarters

China's railway network saw a surge in passenger trips in the first three quarters of this year, with a total of 3.54 billion passenger trips made, up 6 percent year on year, according to the country's railway operator.

This figure represents a record high for the same period in history, said the China State Railway Group, adding that railway transportation remained safe, stable and orderly.

The railway operator made full use of newly-operating railway lines and stations to increase transport capacity and made flexible adjustments to train operation plans in the first three quarters. An average of 11,087 passenger trains were operating daily during the period, up 7.1 percent year on year, the company said.

To cater to growing market demand for tourism, wellness retreats and educational trips, railway authorities have designed specialized train routes for tourists.

A total of 1,818 specialized tourist trains were operated during this 9-month period, providing strong support for the tourism sector.

Cross-border passenger transport also gained momentum, with the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link and the China-Laos Railway handling 23.31 million and 197,000 cross-border passenger trips, respectively, during the 9-month period. This effectively facilitated personnel exchanges, as well as trade and business activities.

An episode of "Unraveling the Vanishing Mystery of the 34th Division," a documentary series by China Global Television Network (CGTN), tells the story of the 34th Division of the Fifth Army Corps, which fought a fierce rear-guard action against pursuing Kuomintang forces during the Long March.

In November 1934, the Battle of the Xiangjiang River took place in southern China. About 86,000 members of the Central Red Army participated in the battle. Only about 30,000 remained. This was one of the most brutal battles on the Long March.

But the Red Army broke through the blockade of the Kuomintang forces and continued its westward advance. This battle ultimately paved the way for the historic 1935 Zunyi Conference and became an important turning point in the Long March.