The high-speed rail (HSR) network in the People's Republic of China (PRC) is the world's longest and most extensively used ? with a total length of 42,000 kilometres (26,000 mi) by the end of 2022. The HSR network encompasses newly built rail lines with a design speed of 200?350 km/h (120?220 mph).

The longest high-speed rail line in the world in 2026 is the Beijing–Guangzhou–Hong Kong High-Speed Railway, which stretches approximately 2,298 kilometers (1,428 miles). This massive engineering feat connects the capital of China in the north to the southern economic hubs, reducing a journey that once took over 20 hours to just about 8 hours. As part of China's sprawling high-speed rail network—which surpassed 50,000 kilometers in total length early this year—the line supports speeds of up to 350 km/h (217 mph). While the "longest" single continuous line is the Beijing-Guangzhou route, the network is increasingly interconnected, allowing for long-distance services that span the entire country. China's dominance in this field is unrivaled, as its total high-speed track mileage is now more than ten times that of the second-ranked country, Spain. These trains serve as the primary "arteries" for the nation's transport, moving millions of passengers annually with a level of speed and density that remains the global benchmark for 21st-century infrastructure.