A drone photo taken on March 18, 2026 shows a view of the track-laying operation at the construction site of the Chongqing-Kunming high-speed railway in Songming County of Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province.

The first pair of 500-meter-long steel rails was steadily placed on the track on Wednesday, marking the official start of track laying for the Yunnan section of the Chongqing-Kunming high-speed railway.

Upon the full completion of this high-speed railway, travel time between Chongqing and Kunming will be significantly reduced. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)

Workers are pictured during the track-laying operation at the construction site of the Chongqing-Kunming high-speed railway in Songming County of Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, March 18, 2026.

The first pair of 500-meter-long steel rails was steadily placed on the track on Wednesday, marking the official start of track laying for the Yunnan section of the Chongqing-Kunming high-speed railway.

Upon the full completion of this high-speed railway, travel time between Chongqing and Kunming will be significantly reduced. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)

Workers are pictured during the track-laying operation at the construction site of the Chongqing-Kunming high-speed railway in Songming County of Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, March 18, 2026.

The first pair of 500-meter-long steel rails was steadily placed on the track on Wednesday, marking the official start of track laying for the Yunnan section of the Chongqing-Kunming high-speed railway.

Upon the full completion of this high-speed railway, travel time between Chongqing and Kunming will be significantly reduced. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)

A drone photo taken on March 18, 2026 shows a view of the track-laying operation at the construction site of the Chongqing-Kunming high-speed railway in Songming County of Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province.

The first pair of 500-meter-long steel rails was steadily placed on the track on Wednesday, marking the official start of track laying for the Yunnan section of the Chongqing-Kunming high-speed railway.

Upon the full completion of this high-speed railway, travel time between Chongqing and Kunming will be significantly reduced. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)

A drone photo taken on March 18, 2026 shows a view of the track-laying operation at the construction site of the Chongqing-Kunming high-speed railway in Songming County of Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province.

The first pair of 500-meter-long steel rails was steadily placed on the track on Wednesday, marking the official start of track laying for the Yunnan section of the Chongqing-Kunming high-speed railway.

Upon the full completion of this high-speed railway, travel time between Chongqing and Kunming will be significantly reduced. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)

Workers are pictured during the track-laying operation at the construction site of the Chongqing-Kunming high-speed railway in Songming County of Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, March 18, 2026.

The first pair of 500-meter-long steel rails was steadily placed on the track on Wednesday, marking the official start of track laying for the Yunnan section of the Chongqing-Kunming high-speed railway.

Upon the full completion of this high-speed railway, travel time between Chongqing and Kunming will be significantly reduced. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)

Workers are pictured during the track-laying operation at the construction site of the Chongqing-Kunming high-speed railway in Songming County of Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, March 18, 2026.

The first pair of 500-meter-long steel rails was steadily placed on the track on Wednesday, marking the official start of track laying for the Yunnan section of the Chongqing-Kunming high-speed railway.

Upon the full completion of this high-speed railway, travel time between Chongqing and Kunming will be significantly reduced. (Xinhua/Hu Chao)