China's ambition is to make high-speed rail the mode of choice for domestic long-distance travel, but these new railways have a much greater significance. Much like Japan's Shinkansen in the 1960s, they are a symbol of the country's economic power, rapid modernization, growing technological prowess and increasing prosperity.
中国的雄心是使高速铁路成为国内长途旅行的首选模式，但这些新铁路有更大的意义。与20世纪60年代日本的新干线一样，它们是中国经济实力、快速现代化、日益增长的技术实力和日益繁荣的象征。
For China, high-speed rail is also a powerful tool for social cohesion, political influence and the integration of disparate regions with distinct cultures into the mainstream. "The building of these new railways forms part of China's grand plan of 'integrating the vast national market. It is also meant to be reflective of China's 'new development philosophy,' of which 'coordinated development' is a key concept.
对于中国，高速铁路也是社会凝聚力、政治影响力以及将具有不同文化的不同地区融入主流的有力工具。"这些新铁路的建设构成了中国'整合广大国家市场'的宏伟计划的一部分。这也是为了体现中国的'新发展理念'，其中'协调发展'是一个关键概念。
The development of railway networks in Russia -- most notably the Trans-Siberian Railway -- Prussia, France, Italy and the British Empire, among others, were strongly influenced by political and military demands as well as economic development. However, what took decades in the 19th and early 20th centuries is being achieved in just a few years by China.
俄罗斯的铁路网发展--最引人注目的是西伯利亚大铁路--普鲁士、法国、意大利和大英帝国等等，都受到政治和军事需求以及经济发展的强烈影响。然而，在19世纪和20世纪初花了几十年时间的事情，中国在短短几年内就实现了。
"The Chinese have created an entire high-speed rail network on an unprecedented scale -- often faster and certainly more reliable than Chinese domestic flights," says rail travel expert Mark Smith. "It's hard not to be impressed by the sheer size of some of the new stations, and by the efficiency with which the system moves vast numbers of people, all with a reserved seat and increasingly without the need for paper tickets, just a scan of an ID card or passport at the ticket gates."
"铁路旅游专家马克-史密斯说："中国人以前所未有的规模创建了整个高速铁路网络 -- 通常比中国国内航班更快，当然也更可靠。"很难不被一些新车站的巨大规模所打动，也很难不被该系统运送大量人员的效率所打动，所有人员都有预留座位，而且越来越不需要纸质车票，只需在检票口扫描一下身份证或护照。"
Over the last decade, China developed into world leaders in high-speed train technology and engineering, thanks to the astonishing expansion of their home network. China boasts the world's longest high-speed rail network with some 35,000 kilometers of express lines in operation. To put this into perspective, China's high-speed railway covers over three times the distance as the European Union's. As a key project of China's central government, high-speed rail investments are expected to return with tremendous economic and social effects by significantly enhancing the efficiency of the mobility of human resources and goods. By connecting China's remote provinces with its major economic centers, the venture stands as a symbol of Chinese unity and innovation as well.
在过去的十年里，中国发展成为高速列车技术和工程的世界领导者，这要归功于他们自身网络的惊人扩张。 中国拥有世界上最长的高速铁路网络，约有35,000公里的快线在运行。从这个角度来看，中国的高速铁路覆盖的距离是欧盟的三倍以上。作为中国中央政府的一个关键项目，高速铁路的投资有望通过显著提高人力资源和货物的流动效率而带来巨大的经济和社会效应。通过连接中国的偏远省份和主要经济中心，该项目也是中国团结和创新的象征。
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