(IV) “Made in China” HSR: A New Mode of Transportation

i. “Clothing, food, housing, and transportation”

Chinese culture, renowned for its profundity and richness, has a remarkable ability to capture complex life realities.

Life is all about “clothing, food, housing, and transportation.” These four simple words sum up the fundamental necessities of life. They are the four most basic needs of human beings, and all human lives revolve around these needs.

From ancient times to the present day, every major achievement of human progress, at its core, can be attributed to the pursuit of at least one of the four basic needs. Throughout history, humans on this planet have built amazing creations with their remarkable capacity to think and learn, resulting in a fascinating world.

Historically, China presented the world with a vast array of creations relating to “clothing, food, housing, and transportation.”

In this new era, China's high-speed rail has given the world a new mode of transportation.

(1) “Clothing” – Silk

During the Western Han Dynasty, China began exporting silk to ancient India. Traders’ camel caravans, laden with Chinese goods, made their way westwards across the steppes and deserts, eventually giving rise to a trade route that stretched about 7,000 km between present-day Xi’an and Europe. During the Tang Dynasty, Chinese silk and porcelain flowed in a steady stream to Europe along this long and winding route to the West.

In the 17th century, Chinese silk was all the rage among the nobility in Europe, and the longest trade route overland became fondly known as the “Silk Road.”

It marked the start of the massive flow of Chinese commodities to the rest of the world.

(2) “Food” – Tea

In 1607, a shipment of Chinese tea arrived in Europe aboard a Dutch merchant ship from Macao. The tea was not intended as a gift, but marked the first recorded sale of a Chinese commodity in bulk to Europe.

In the late 17th century, Europeans fell in love with Chinese tea, and they brought Chinese tea to North America on their expeditions to the continent, drawing greater attention to Chinese commodities. In 1886, China's tea exports reached 134,000 tons.

(3) “Housing” – The Forbidden City

The “home” of the emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties was the Forbidden City.

Located in the heart of Beijing, this largest surviving ancient palatial complex in China was first built in 1406 and completed 14 years later. Measuring 961 m in length and 753 m in width, the Forbidden City covers an area of about 725,000 sq. m. This sprawling complex was built according to Eastern fengshui (geomancy) principles. Combining Chinese aesthetics and practicality, the Forbidden City provided a splendid, exquisite and comfortable residence for 24 emperors in the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

Each day, tens of thousands of tourists from around the world flock to this enormous “home” to appreciate its intrinsic culture, polity and aesthetics. As the seat of supreme power, the Forbidden City is the ultimate example of Eastern royal residences.

Since the late 20th century, the Forbidden City has been a must-see for visitors to China.

Over the same period, goods produced in China have become an integral part of the global marketplace. In 2000, China's total exports amounted to RMB 249.2 billion, and behind this figure was an enormous quantity of inexpensive yet high-quality products brought to the world by China: Nearly half of the salad bowls in European and American homes were made in China.

(4) “Transportation” – High-Speed Trains

In the 20th century, amid China's economic boom, the huge flow of migrant workers and businesspeople put a serious strain on transportation infrastructure, especially during the annual Lunar New Year travel season.

With the country's enormous population spread across such a vast territory, the best course of action for the government was to develop public transportation rather than to increase car ownership.

To develop public transportation, considering the country's immense population, the best choice would be a high-capacity ground vehicle. And given the country's vast territory, the vehicle should preferably be able to run over long distances. High-speed trains met both criteria.

Xu Jin returned to Beijing from San Francisco with his son and daughter. The Beijing native had spent 10 years in the U.S., where he had a house and two kids who could barely speak Chinese. This time, they were embarking on a “journey of discovery” as he wanted to show his children what their father's native country looked like.

The father and his children boarded a high-speed train. It was the world's fastest. When the digital display at the front of the carriage showed “350 km/h,” the kids sprang up from their seats, cheering and snapping pictures excitedly.

High-speed rail is a symbol of contemporary China. After returning to the U.S., the children told their friends, “That is the country with the fastest high-speed train in the world.…”

China has the Great Wall, but it is an ancient creation. High-speed rail is contemporary and high-tech.

High-speed rail is not the result of manpower and long periods of time; rather, it is the result of creativity and innovation.

When it comes to “transportation” among the four basic needs of humans, high-speed rail is another marvelous creation that China has presented to the world.

From silk from high-speed rail, from basic necessities to heavyduty equipment, and from handicrafts to industrialized manufacturing, the advancements are inspiring.