To better support the global expansion of China's high-speed rail and subway systems and address bottlenecks in testing, certification, and accreditation for rail transit equipment exports, Qingdao is currently constructing a National Rail Equipment Comprehensive Test Base. The project was recently highlighted by experts at the 14th China Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition's Rail Transit Equipment Professional Competition, held at the Qingdao National High-Speed Train Technology Innovation Center.
The base will serve multiple functions, including validating new technologies and materials for China's rail equipment, conducting localization tests for critical railway components, and facilitating international cooperation by providing testing and certification services for global rail transit equipment. It will also serve as a platform for domestic rail transit industry chains in R&D, new technology testing, and certification.
According to sources from the Qingdao National High-Speed Train Technology Innovation Center, the project is a key preparatory initiative for Qingdao in 2025, with the circular railway test line being one of its most critical components. On July 9, China State Railway Group conducted trial runs on the test line at the Circular Railway Test Base.
The Shandong Provincial Department of Commerce disclosed that the National Rail Equipment Comprehensive Test Base is located on the east bank of Taoyuan River in Chengyang District, Qingdao. The main loop will be elevated, while most other sections will be ground-level. With a total investment of 5 billion yuan, the project is expected to generate annual revenue of 1.2 billion yuan and profits of 320 million yuan upon full operation. The stable revenue outlook underscores its economic viability.
Spanning approximately 715.9 acres, the base will feature a 20.7-kilometer wheel-rail test line capable of speeds up to 200 km/h, compliant with Chinese, EU, CIS, and U.S. standards. Supporting facilities will include component testing labs, control centers, operation management centers, maintenance rooms, and unloading yards, all designed to meet global certification requirements.
In March 2025, the Shandong Department of Transport released a scientific achievement registration form for the base's construction plan, confirming its completion by three entities, including the Qingdao National High-Speed Train Technology Innovation Center and the Qingdao Rail Transit Industry Demonstration Zone Management Committee. The plan outlines a "1+1+N" resource integration model for national rail equipment testing, covering technical specifications, land use, construction models, and policy and funding safeguards. Liang Jianying, from the Qingdao National High-Speed Train Technology Innovation Center, oversees the project. The center, jointly established by
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China currently has two operational circular railway test lines, located in Beijing and Dalian, with two more under construction or planning—the Qingdao project and another in Zhuzhou, Hunan. The Zhuzhou project, announced in June 2022, involves a 53.6-kilometer rail transit line (including a dedicated base line) and supporting infrastructure, with a total investment of 3.2 billion yuan and an expected return rate of 10%. Planning and site selection are underway.
The Beijing test line, operated by the China Academy of Railway Sciences, features a 38-kilometer network with loops for speeds up to 180 km/h, supporting multi-disciplinary rail testing. The Dalian line, launched in August 2016 by CRRC Dalian, is a 4.58-kilometer elevated loop capable of testing both locomotives and urban rail vehicles.
Notably, three of the four circular test lines—Qingdao, Zhuzhou, and Dalian—are closely tied to
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