The Xi'an–Yan'an high-speed railway officially opened to service on Friday, dramatically shortening travel time between the two cities, and is poised to significantly boost the popularity of "red tourism" in the region.
Stretching 299 kilometers, the new line links Xi'an -- the capital city of northwest China's Shaanxi Province and home to the world-famous Terracotta Warriors -- with Yan'an, the sacred Chinese revolutionary heartland perched on the loess hills of northern Shaanxi.
Yan'an gained international attention through American journalist Edgar Snow's 1937 classic "Red Star Over China," which depicted the region as one of China's poorest areas but also as a beacon of hope, with the Communist Party of China (CPC) leading the country toward independence and liberation.
Designed for speeds up to 350 km/h, the railway slashes journey time between Xi'an and Yan'an from roughly 2.5 hours to just one hour.
Local authorities along the line are seizing this opportunity to boost the cultural tourism market by tapping into their revolutionary heritage, rich historical legacy, and stunning natural landscapes.
The Yan'an municipal culture and tourism bureau has rolled out multiple themed itineraries, exclusive discounts for high-speed rail passengers, and direct shuttle services to major attractions.
"The opening of the Xi'an-Yan'an high-speed railway will make weekend getaways and micro-vacations the new norm. We will also introduce high-speed rail-exclusive offers and cross-regional combo tickets to upgrade our 'red tourism' offerings and build Yan'an into a one-stop, high-quality cultural tourism destination," said Ma Nan, assistant to the general manager of Shaanxi Tourism Group's Yan'an subsidiary.
The opening of this line has brought China's high-speed rail mileage to over 50,000 km, exceeding the total of all other countries combined.
Newly opened Xi'an-Yan'an high-speed railway to boost CPC heritage tourism in Shaanxi
South China's Guangdong Province is accelerating its transformation into an international medical tourism hub, positioning itself as a destination for patients worldwide seeking affordable, high-quality care.
The push follows a joint initiative announced in late March by nine Chinese government departments, including the Ministry of Commerce, aimed at boosting spending by foreign tourists and enhancing exports of tourism services as part of broader efforts to expand the country's service sector.
Every day, some of the most complex surgeries are performed here. Li Zilun, deputy director of the division of vascular surgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‑sen University, is among the doctors capable of carrying out these intricate procedures.
He recently completed surgery on a patient with an aortic aneurysm, a condition often described as a "time bomb" in the body’s main artery, increasingly common in aging societies around the globe. Li also specializes in highly difficult and pioneering procedures, including repairing leaks caused by failed grafts.
"This was a very challenging case. And then, we implanted the covered stent to eliminate the endoleak. Actually, the outcome was pretty good. The patient will be discharged today," said Li Zilun.
The ability to handle such complex cases -- combining international techniques with domestically produced devices -- is drawing patients from around the world to seek treatment. In addition, high safety standards and low costs are also major draws.
"Our government is encouraging innovation. So, lots of physicians -- including our vascular surgeons -- we are actively involved in the innovation that helps to increase the effectiveness and safety, and also bring down the cost," said Li.
This hospital is one of the first in Guangdong to be designated by the provincial health commission as a pilot site for building an international medical service hub.
The growing number of patients has pushed the hospital to explore new ways to transform every step -- from treatment to payment and everything in between -- into a seamless experience, reducing waiting times and delivering better care for patients.
"I think it's fast. When the patient come here for just about, I think, one week, you can solve the problem," said Xiao Haipeng, president of the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University.
The hospital is also deepening its international cooperation with top-tier medical institutions, including those at Harvard University.
"Not just for China, for the whole globe, we are facing health care challenges -- emerging infectious disease and chronic, lung infectious diseases, and also the aging population, also the shortage of healthcare workforce," said Xiao.
In response to these challenges, China is promoting its own solutions, including aggressive innovation in artificial intelligence (AI)-driven workflows, while stepping up research and development investment and global engagement along the way.
"In recent years, the innovation in Western medicine is dramatically growing. An example of my hospital -- in the past few years, we have 140 innovations and seven of them are international leading innovations," said Xiao.
As global demand for medical tourism grows, China is positioning itself as a new destination. Official data shows that the number of foreign patients in Guangdong increased by 20 percent last year. Among them, the growth in inpatient admissions was even faster, rising by 76 percent.
Guangdong fast-tracks pilot for int'l medical service hub
