Guiyang-Nanning High- speed Railway

The Guiyang–Nanning High-Speed Railway traverses the Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau (the second step of China's terrain) and the Guangxi Basin (the third step), a region marked by rugged terrain, overlapping ridges and peaks, towering mountains, and deep valleys. The railway passes through geologically complex areas featuring extensively developed karst landscapes, unstable rock formations, and frequent occurrences of falling stones. Geological hazards are widespread and often concealed, while numerous environmentally sensitive zones require careful protection.

Faced with the challenges of difficult surveys, complex route selection, and demanding design work, the project team pioneered integrated investigation technologies combining spaceborne, aerial, and ground-based methods to address survey obstacles. To tackle the challenges in route selection, disaster-mitigation routing theories and methodologies were developed. For the design phase, key construction technologies were innovated to enable high-speed railway development in mountainous terrain. Environmental protection remained a top priority throughout construction, with a comprehensive series of green construction measures implemented.

During construction, the project generated nearly 20,000 direct local jobs annually, along with approximately 40,000 indirect employment opportunities. Since its opening in August 2023, the Guiyang–Nanning High-Speed Railway has transported over 8.2 million passengers per year, promoting cultural exchange and integration among ethnic groups including the Maonan, Yao, Bouyei, and Zhuang, and strengthening connections between these communities and the broader region.

The railway’s opening has spurred significant economic growth along the corridor, contributing 36.3% to tourism growth, an 8.2% increase in employment, and a 2.8% boost to regional GDP. It has played a pivotal role in rural revitalisation, supporting sustainable development in ethnic minority regions.

The project was delivered in full alignment with FIDIC principles, ensuring transparency, legal compliance, and stakeholder engagement throughout. The project was managed with integrity, achieving goals related to quality assurance, schedule adherence, and investment control—with no violations of consulting engineers’ professional ethics reported.

The successful completion of the Guiyang–Nanning High-Speed Railway has greatly reduced travel time between Guiyang and Nanning, offering a faster, more comfortable, and more reliable mode of transportation. It has improved livelihoods, enhanced quality of life, bolstered local economies, and increased the transportation capacity and connectivity of the entire region—delivering significant long-term economic and social benefits.