The world’s largest high-speed railway station has just opened in southwest China — and its sheer size is staggering. At five times the scale of New York’s Grand Central, Chongqing East Station is a vast new landmark that cost an estimated £5.82 billion to build for its opening this June.
Spread across 1.22 million square metres, which is roughly equivalent to 170 football pitches, it’s hardly the place for a quick dash between trains. The vast hub has 15 platforms and 29 tracks, bringing together high-speed lines, conventional railways and metro routes. After 38 months of construction, the mega hub now offers travellers shopping, dining and office spaces, making the station feel like a small city in its own right.
But the station isn’t just about scale. Designers looked to local nature for inspiration: colossal columns shaped like huangjue trees soar above the concourse, while bamboo signs welcome passengers.
Inside, 5,000 seats await travellers, of which a fifth are kitted out with USB ports, alongside an array of food options from McDonald’s and KFC to local restaurants. It also has a panoramic observation deck.
The hub opens up southwest China, making it easier to visit Chengdu’s giant pandas or the Terracotta Army at Xi’an’s UNESCO-listed Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor.
Passengers can get onward travel from nearby cities to places like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen in six to eight hours, traveling at speeds of up to 350kmph.
China’s high-speed rail system has been rapidly expanding over the past decade, and Chongqing East Station was designed to develop this growth and act as a main connection hub for the region.
British citizens must have a visa to visit mainland China, although they can transit through without a visa, depending on location.
