The newly inaugurated Chongqing East Station has officially begun operations, earning the title of the world’s largest high-speed railway station by total built-up area. Rapidly becoming a modern landmark and tourist attraction, the station marks a significant leap forward in China’s high-speed rail expansion.

Spanning a massive 1.22 million square meters, the station dwarfs many of its counterparts. To put its scale into perspective, it’s equivalent to two Guangzhou South Stations or about 170 football fields—a size larger than the central districts of some cities.

The terminal boasts 15 platforms and 29 tracks, spread across three rail yards and a four-story terminal building. At full capacity, it can handle up to 16,000 passengers per hour, placing it among China’s most efficient and high-performing railway hubs.

Although the “world’s largest” label is based on total built-up area completed in a single phase—not on annual passenger flow—the engineering feat remains impressive by global standards.

Chongqing East Station is also a major connector within China’s high-speed rail network. It enables 1-hour travel to Chengdu and Guiyang, 3-hour journeys to Xi’an, Wuhan, Changsha, and Kunming, and 6-hour access to megacities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. This positions the station as a central gateway in one of the world’s most advanced rail systems.

With its futuristic design, sheer scale, and strategic location, Chongqing East Station is not only redefining regional mobility but also setting new global benchmarks in transportation infrastructure.