4 April 1979

Guangzhou-Kowloon through train service resumed

On April 4, 1979, the Guangzhou-Kowloon through train service, which had been suspended for 30 years, resumed operation.

That morning, the first train departed from Guangzhou Railway Station to Hong Kong, with then Vice Minister of the Ministry of Railways of China, Geng Zhenlin (耿振林), hosting the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the resumption of service, and Sir Murray MacLehose, the Governor of Hong Kong, and his wife were among the first passengers.

Initially, the Guangzhou-Kowloon through train operated only one service per day, with a travel time of approximately three hours and a one-way fare of 53.5 Hong Kong dollars.

The Guangzhou-Kowloon through train was first built in 1911, and its service was interrupted twice, during World War II and after the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC).

After the PRC was established, the service was interrupted for the second time, with the British and Chinese sections of the railway terminating at Lo Wu Bridge, where passengers had to disembark at Lo Wu Station to cross the border and transfer to another train.

In the 1950s, then Premier of the State Council Zhou Enlai (周恩來) proposed to the British Hong Kong Government the resumption of through train services, but no agreement was reached due to political movements and other reasons.

In January 1979, following China's implementation of the Reform and Opening-up, the two sides discussed the resumption of train services again.

In March of the same year, representatives from the Guangzhou Railway Bureau and the Kowloon-Canton Railway Bureau formally signed the agreement.

Foreign Aid Medical Team

6 April 1963

China dispatched its first foreign aid medical team

2025-04-05
Jingjiang flood diversion

5 April 1952

New China's first large-scale water conservancy project commenced

2025-04-04
 The Chinese Opera Research Institute

3 April 1951

Chinese National Academy of Opera was established

2025-04-02
Contemporary China - On This Day - 5G Call

2 April 2018

China's first 5G call

2025-04-01
Contemporary China - Today in History - Central Government Approves the Establishment of Kashgar Economic Development Zone in Xinjiang

19 May 2010

Xinjiang's Kashgar Economic Development Zone approved for establishment

2025-05-18
Kunqu Opera

18 May 2001

China's Kunqu Opera selected as "Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity"

2025-05-17
Contemporary China - Today in History - Jidihao

17 May 1987

China's first polar research vessel successfully completed its mission

2025-05-16
Contemporary China - On This Day - Dongfeng Sedan

12 May 1958

The first "Dongfeng" brand domestically produced sedan rolled off the production line

2025-05-11
Practice is the Sole Criterion for Testing Truth

11 May 1978

The article "Practice is the Sole Criterion for Testing Truth" was published

2025-05-10
Contemporary China - On This Day in History - High-Tech Industry

10 May 1988

China's first high-tech industry development experimental zone officially established

2025-05-09
Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant

3 May 2004

China's first large-scale commercial nuclear power plant put into operation

2025-05-02
WeChat
We use cookies to deliver our services and to provide you with a personalised experience. By using our services, you need to agree to our Privacy Policy.
Agree and close