Reform drives nation along path to prosperity

People travel along Shazikou Street outside the Yongding Gate in 1980. [Photo/China Daily]

The Qinghai-Tibet railway, completed in 2006, is the world's highest, and the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed line, which opened in 2011, is the fastest and longest commercial line on the planet.

Highway construction has also advanced greatly. In 1978, the total length of China's highways was just 890,000 kilometers, compared with 4,773,500 km by the end of last year. Expressways stretch for 136,500 km, meaning 99.99 percent of townships and 99.98 percent of villages are accessible by road.

China's civil aviation industry has also made considerable progress. By the end of last year, 229 civil airports were operating, compared with 78 in 1978. Passenger volume was 550 million trips and passenger turnover was 951.2 billion per km.

In addition, 127,000 km of inland waterways are open to traffic, and there are 27,578 cargo berths at ports, compared with 735 in 1978. China is also home to seven of the world's top 10 ports by cargo and container throughput.

Urban transportation systems have also seen huge changes as a result of the rapid urbanization process. Ride-hailing services and shared bicycles have gained in popularity, and 34 cities have subways and overground rail networks.

The government aims to transform China into a strong transportation nation, according to goals proposed at the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in October last year. Further construction will be focused on poverty-stricken areas, and roads in impoverished rural areas will be the main targets for improvement.

"Developed transportation has always been a symbol of national strength," said Hu Xijie, a former vice-minister of transport. "In the new era, we should endeavor to build a modern and comprehensive transportation system that is safe, convenient, efficient, green and economical to meet people's growing need for a better life."