€23 Billion and Up to 15 Years of Construction
The price tag, 220 billion yuan (approximately €23 billion), is significant but modest by Chinese standards considering the scale and economic impact. Construction is expected to take between 10 and 15 years—and when China commits to a timeline, it usually delivers.
This is not a prestige project designed for headlines. It is driven by economic necessity. The tunnel is intended to relieve pressure on major rail corridors around Beijing and Tianjin while directly linking industrial regions in northeastern China with key economic zones further south. In effect, it will function as a new artery for the Chinese economy.