China is taking futuristic transportation to a new level as the first country to unveil a construction program for a hyperloop system.
- The ambitious project aims to create a vacuum-tube maglev system capable of reaching up to 1,000 km/h, slashing travel times between Shanghai and Hangzhou.
Zoom In: The South China Morning Post reports that the 175 km journey between Shanghai, China's largest city by population, and Hangzhou, an e-commerce hub and hometown of Alibaba, is expected to be completed in just 15 minutes.
- This would be a drastic reduction compared to the current 3-hour road trip or 1-hour high-speed rail journey.
- According to an article in the Railway Standard Design journal, the Chinese Academy of Engineering chose the two cities after a comprehensive assessment, factoring in economic payback and the relatively flat terrain between them. The Academy provides advice to the Chinese government and plays a direct role in the conception, design, and construction of infrastructure projects.
Zoom Out: If all goes according to plan, the hyperloop will be operational by 2035. With other potential lines considered, including routes between Beijing and Shijiazhuang, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, and Chengdu and Chongqing, China's hyperloop ambitions could revolutionize the way people travel across the country.
