Musk spotlights Chongqing's futuristic rail megahub

Tech billionaire Elon Musk has once again drawn global attention to China's infrastructure after sharing a video of Chongqing East Railway Station, a high-speed rail hub in southwest China.

The post had garnered more than 50 million views. One widely circulated comment under the video read, "Welcome to the future! China now operates the world's most extensive high-speed rail network."

The nearly six-minute video showcases the station's enormous multi-level structure, expansive glass-roofed halls and highly integrated transport system. The visuals, combined with Chongqing's dramatic mountainous urban landscape, prompted many online users to compare the station to scenes from science fiction films.

Located in Chongqing's Nan'an District, Chongqing East Railway Station officially began operations in June 2025 together with the Chongqing East-Qianjiang section of the Chongqing-Xiamen high-speed railway. The new line is designed for trains running at speeds of up to 350 kilometers per hour.

The station is currently the largest high-speed rail hub in western China. Official reports say the complex has a total construction area of about 1.22 million square meters and includes 15 platforms with 29 railway tracks.

What makes the station particularly notable is its role as a comprehensive "four-dimensional" transport hub that integrates multiple transportation systems into a single complex.

In addition to high-speed rail services, the station connects to metro lines, buses, taxis and long-distance passenger transport, allowing passengers to transfer between different modes of transportation more efficiently.

The station uses intelligent passenger guidance systems, digital management technologies and energy-saving designs to improve operational efficiency and passenger experience.

The structure's large skylights and open steel-and-glass design help maximize natural lighting inside the terminal.

Beyond transportation, Chongqing East Railway Station is expected to strengthen regional connectivity and support economic development in western China.

As a key node in China's expanding high-speed rail network, the hub is intended to improve links between Chongqing and major cities in central and eastern China while further integrating the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle.