Hunan–Guizhou railway explained

Hunan–Guizhou railway
Other Name:Xiangqian railway
Native Name:湘黔铁路
Native Name Lang:zh
System:China Railway
Locale: China
Start:Zhuzhou, Hunan
End:Guiyang, Guizhou
Yearcommenced:1937
Yearcompleted:1972
Tracks:2
Electrification:yes
Map Name:map_name
Map State:uncollapsed

The Hunan–Guizhou railway or Xiangqian railway, is a double-track electrified railroad in Southwest China linking Zhuzhou, Hunan, with Guiyang, Guizhou. The railway runs through a very mountainous region, 23% of its length were either bridges or tunnels. Since 2006, it is one of the four segments of the Shanghai–Kunming railway.

Construction began in 1937, but was abandoned in 1939 during the Second Sino–Japanese War due to Japanese encroachment in Hunan. It was resumed in 1970 during the Cultural Revolution after Mao Zedong called for its construction. The line was only completed in 1972 after mobilizing hundreds of thousands of people, including workers, peasants, "sent-down youths", and soldiers.