The China-Laos Railway carried 244,000 cross-border passenger trips in the first eight months of 2026, an increase of more than 50 per cent year on year, according to
Global Times, a TV BRICS partner
The railway had operated 3,789 cross-border passenger trains, serving 926,000 traveller trips from more than 120 countries and regions.
International passenger services between China and Laos began in 2023, connecting Kunming South Station in Yunnan Province with Vientiane, the capital of Laos. The service has provided a convenient transport option for travel and tourism between the two countries.
The route currently operates four international passenger trains each day, with the fastest journey taking 9 hours and 36 minutes. Customs clearance at the Mohan railway port takes about 50 minutes.
The number of cross-border passenger seats has increased from 250 when the international service was launched to 420. Daily passenger crossings have also risen from about 300 initially to a peak of 1,640.
The railway connects major tourist destinations, including Kunming, Xishuangbanna and Vientiane, as well as more than 560 scenic spots along the route.
During the summer travel period from 1 July to 1 September, more than 57,000 travellers from 72 countries and regions crossed the border through the Mohan railway port, representing an increase of more than 51 per cent year on year. Daily passenger clearances reached a peak of more than 1,100.
Official data shows that cross-border tourism, study tours and business travel have continued to grow, while consumption in sectors including scenic attractions, hotels and catering along the route increased by more than 35 per cent.