Built in 38 months by robots: Inside China's new mega high-speed railway hub

China's infrastructure has yet again caught the attention of tech billionaire Elon Musk. This time, it's one of the world's largest Chongqing rail station, built in Beijing in 38 months with a robot army.

Musk shared the video on X, which garnered over 50 million views, and a widely circulated comment under the video read, "Welcome to the future! China now operates the world's most extensive high-speed rail network."

The nearly six-minute video highlights the station’s massive multi-level structure, vast glass-covered halls, and seamlessly integrated transport network. Paired with Chongqing’s striking mountainous skyline, the visuals led many online users to compare the station to scenes from science fiction films.

The real story of Chongqing East Railway Station is even more fascinating.

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We take a look.

About Chongqing East Railway Station

Situated in Nan'an District, Chongqing East Railway Station officially started operations in June 2025 alongside the Chongqing East–Qianjiang segment of the Chongqing–Xiamen high-speed railway. The new line route is built to support trains travelling at speeds of up to 350 kmph.

The station is currently the largest high-speed rail hub in western China. According to official reports, the sprawling complex spans around 1.22 million square metres and includes 15 platforms with 29 railway tracks.

Now, what makes this station notable is its comprehensive "four-dimensional" transport hub that brings together multiple modes of transportation within a single complex, CGTN reported.

Its expansive skylights and open steel-and-glass architecture allow ample natural light into the terminal. Image courtesy: X

Apart from its high-speed rail services, the station connects to metro lines, buses, taxis, and long-distance passenger transport, allowing travellers to transfer between modes of transport efficiently.

The station features smart passenger guidance systems, advanced digital management technologies, and energy-efficient designs to enhance both operational efficiency and the passenger experience.

Its expansive skylights and open steel-and-glass architecture allow ample natural light into the terminal.

Beyond serving as a transport hub, Chongqing East Railway Station is also expected to boost regional connectivity and support economic growth across western China.

How China built it using robots

According to a report by the Chinese state-owned broadcaster Xinhua News Agency, the Chongqing rail station's construction was completed in just 38 months — from receiving the design blueprints in May 2022 to its official inauguration in 2025 — thanks to what they called the “robot revolution.”

Constructed on challenging terrain and under extreme summer temperatures that often crossed 40 degrees Celsius, the project made extensive use of advanced robotics to overcome conventional construction challenges.

"A robot army led the construction," Xinhua reported.

Laser-guided four-wheel screed robots, powered by LiDAR, AI, and 5G technology, carried out concrete levelling with millimetre-level precision at nearly three times the speed of human workers, while also reducing labour costs by 40 per cent, India Today reported.

Robots used for glass installation safely handled 800-kg panels with precision, tripling installation efficiency and reducing accident risks by 90 per cent.

Meanwhile, omnidirectional welding robots and 24/7 patrol robots further boosted productivity, minimised safety risks, and ensured quality control even in harsh working conditions.

Officials from China Railway 11th Bureau told Xinhua News Agency that the use of robotics almost halved labour costs, tripled average work efficiency, and reduced accidents by 90 per cent.

With inputs from agencies