The Expanding High-speed Rail Economy of China拓展中的中國高鐵經濟

丹尼爾·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.

中國香港與內地之間的高速鐵路開通了，高鐵這一新時代技術的經濟效益再次引起了關注。中國第一條商用列車早在1876年開始運營，而今高鐵逐步成為常用的新型交通工具，推動了經濟持續增長。

高速鐵路網絡正以多種方式改變著中國。在19世紀的英國和美國，許多城鎮在鐵路沿線發展起來;今日中國的城鎮化與此類似，也沿著鐵路線蓬勃發展。10年前還沒有寫字樓、住宅區和商業區，這些正隨著鐵路的持續建設而如雨后春筍般出現。

擁擠的商業城市里，房價相對較高。在鄰近這些城市的地方，隨著高鐵的開通出現了許多新的衛星城鎮。這些城鎮借助于快速的交通連接，也可享受大城市所有的便利設施。地方政府發現，可以借此高效地管理規模適中的大城市。

高鐵網絡創造了許多商業機會。高鐵是一個廣闊的生態系統，不僅通過出售車票營利，還能拉動整體經濟，創造利潤。盡管本世紀前10年因為經濟衰退而出現國際金融危機，盡管今年美國對華采取了一系列貿易保護主義動作，但高鐵這種拉動能力推動著中國經濟向前發展。與此同時，因為高鐵，全國的經濟活動得以重新配置，傳統的商業模式得以不斷修整。

以前一度在隔離狀態中開展商業活動的偏遠城市，現已與大型工業區連接起來了。同時，彼此相鄰且工業能力相當的城市正在形成經濟集群，并在相同的專業基礎上壯大了規模。

中國東西部之間的經濟失衡也在逐漸消失。通過提升連通性，新疆等欠發達地區正在趕上發達地區。新疆此前經濟增長滯后，如今已變成“一帶一路”倡議中的一大物流中心，其首府烏魯木齊已是東部商人辦理出口相關事務的主要目的地。

服務業和制造業中的利益相關者相互距離更近之后，個體企業在深度整合的經濟中也在擴大經營。勞動力流動越來越活泛，消費者也更愿意前往其他城市消費。

國外來華尋求商機的人士發現，為找到合適的制造商而前往遙遠的中國內地越來越容易了。內陸城市的工資低于發達的東部沿海地區，現在隨著連通性和可達性的提升，其吸引力也更大了。

隨著載客能力的提高，高鐵減輕了常規鐵路的運輸負擔，從而為貨運提供了更多空間，可為深處內地的工廠輸送更多的能源供應，并將其更多的產品運往沿海港口。

高鐵這一未來運輸系統的另一個主要影響在假日旅行方面。每個農歷新年都會出現的全國旅行狂潮常被視為世界上最大的人口流動。過去，政府需要數天時間來應對這種巨大的浪涌，但這樣的經歷已成過往，新的高鐵網絡可以更好地滿足客運需求。

中國的社會環境也在變化。過去由于距離遙遠，人們不那么經常拜訪親人，現在旅行探親則更為頻繁，從而強化了建立在完善的家族聯系中且原本就很牢固的社會結構。

高鐵網絡也促進了旅游業的發展。以往人們無法踏足的地方，現在一個周末就可以游玩。同樣，他們可以更方便地前往偏遠地區和較少探索的地方。因此，各旅游目的地均有大量的經濟輸入，旅游業相關人員的生活得到了顯著改善。

政府并沒有因為高鐵速度加快而設定高票價，這一點令人感念。例如，從北京到上海的單程票價僅為80美元。票價低廉是高鐵這一項目成功的先決條件。另一方面，人們的收入水平不斷上升，從而降低了負擔能力上的差距。

高鐵對中國經濟和社會的發展做出了重大貢獻。現在香港已通高鐵，可以更好地參與“一帶一路”倡議以及融入粵港澳大灣區。隨著高鐵網絡的不斷擴大，要不了多長時間，中國的所有地區都將相互依存，同步發展。