On November 25, the Information Office of the Hunan Provincial People's Government held a press conference themed on the transportation achievements that Hunan made during the 14th Five-year Plan period (2021-2025).
According to the conference, during the five-year period, Hunan has invested 538.6 billion CNY in road and water transport construction, recording a 54% increase compared with the previous five-year period. A modern comprehensive transportation system featuring east-west and north-south connectivity has taken shape around the province, realizing extensive external openness and robust internal circulation.
During the 14th Five-year Plan period, Hunan has been unceasingly enhancing its road network. It is estimated that, by the end of this year, Hunan's total road mileage will reach 270,000km. Among which, the length of expressways around the province amounts to 8,642km, ranking 9th nationwide. All counties in the province have access to expressways. Thirty-one expressways enable convenient cross-province travel, while the "seven vertical and seven horizontal" backbone expressway network ensures smooth transportation within the province. The total length of national and provincial highways reaches 31,000km, ranking 4th in the country and providing access to all counties, county-level cities, and districts, as well as major towns and townships. The rural road mileage totals 230,000km, making once formidable locations like the Xuefeng Mountain and the cliff-side Shibadong Village easily accessible.
Hunan's rail transit sector also shows momentum of acceleration. The total length of railways in operation around the province reaches 6,079km, ranking 10th in China. Among them, high-speed railways extend for 2,501km, ranking 5th nationwide. All cities are accessible by high-speed railways, with a high-speed railway loop formed within the province.
Over the past five years, Hunan has continuously leveraged its advantages in water transport and multimodal transportation, making freight operations more cost-effective. By the end of this year, the waterway mileage is expected to reach 12,000km, ranking third nationally. The waterways navigable to vessels of 1,000 tonnages and above amount to 1,276km.
Hunan operates 12 multimodal transport routes, which enable the cargos from Yueyang Port to reach the Yangtze River Delta, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and even overseas destinations. This logistics efficiency is reflected in a steady decade-long decline in the province's social logistics costs as a percentage of GDP, dropping from 17.5% in 2015 to 14% in 2024 and staying below the national average for four consecutive years.