Qingyuan (清远) is strategically located at the intersection of Guangdong (广东), Hunan (湖南), and Guangxi (广西) provinces, often referred to as "The Confluence of Three Provinces" and "The Fortress of the Beijiang River." It is situated within the "One-Hour Living Circle" of the Pearl River Delta, approximately 50 kilometers from Guangzhou (广州), 30 kilometers from Baiyun Airport (白云机场), and about 200 kilometers from Hong Kong (香港) and Macau (澳门).

Qingyuan boasts a well-developed transportation network that includes the Jingguang Railway (京广铁路), Wuguang Passenger Railway (武广客运快线), several expressways, and national roads, creating a comprehensive water and land transport system. The urban center is closely connected to Guangzhou, with a travel time of just 20 minutes by high-speed train.

By the end of 2023, Qingyuan had a total road mileage of 20,900 kilometers, a 1.0% increase from the previous year. The expressway mileage reached 1,104.43 kilometers, marking a 4.7% increase. Freight transport statistics indicate a total cargo volume of 135 million tons, a 0.5% increase, while passenger volume reached 9.365 million, up by 17.7%.

Highways

Qingyuan is served by several key expressways, including:

• Jinggang'ao Expressway (京港澳高速公路)
• Xuguang Expressway (许广高速公路)
• Guangle Expressway (广乐高速公路)
• Ergong Expressway (二广高速公路)
• Shanzhan Expressway (汕湛高速公路)
• Guanglian Expressway (广连高速公路)

Major national roads include:

• G107 (京港线)
• G106 (京广线)
• G323 (瑞清线)
• G234 (兴阳线) (passing through Lianzhou (连州), Liannan (连南), and Lianshan (连山))
• G240 (保台线) (passing through Yingde (英德) and Qingcheng (清城))
• G355 (福巴线) (passing through Fogang (佛冈), Qingcheng, and Qingxin)
• G358 (石水线) (passing through Yingde and Yangshan (阳山))
• G537 (宁连线) (passing through Lianzhou)

Railways

The main railway stations in Qingyuan include:

• Qingyuan Station (清远站)
• Yingde West Station (英德西站)
• Yuantan Station (源潭站)
• Yingde Station (英德站)
• Qingcheng Station (清城站)
• Longtang Town Station (龙塘镇站)
• Maglev Yinzhan Station (磁浮银盏站)
• Maglev Changlong Station (磁浮长隆站)

The Guangzhou-Qingyuan Intercity Railway began operations on November 30, 2020, with a maximum speed of 200 kilometers per hour. In February 2024, the Qingyuan Maglev Tourism Line commenced trial operations.

Shipping

In 2015, the expansion and upgrading of the Beijiang Waterway began, standardizing a 251.5-kilometer section to accommodate Class III inland river navigation and vessels of up to 1,000 tons. By June 2023, the renovation of the first lock at the Baishiyao Hub (白石窑) was completed, and on January 22, 2024, the Qingyuan Port tourism passenger terminal passed inspection.

In 2023, the Beijiang Qingyuan Hub's locks facilitated a total cargo throughput of 51.68 million tons, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 22%. The number of lock openings reached 14,381, and the average loaded weight of vessels was 1,960 tons.

Qingyuan: Striving to Build a Modern Integrated Transportation System

Qingyuan's transportation infrastructure is rapidly evolving, with concurrent advancements in expressways, railways, and port terminals. A modern integrated transportation system is being established, featuring "Three Railways, One Connection, One Waterway" and "Six Vertical, Four Horizontal, Two Linkages."

Expressway Development

The Guangsha Expressway expansion project (南段) is a key construction initiative in Guangdong's 14th Five-Year Plan. As of now, significant progress has been made, with about 91% of soft foundation treatment completed and plans for extensive construction in the upcoming dry season.

In addition to the Guangsha Expressway, ongoing constructions include the Qinghua Expressway (清花高速) and several planned expressway projects connecting Qingyuan to Zhuhai (珠海) and Gaoming (高明).

Rail Transit Expansion

Since the opening of the Guangzhou-Qingyuan Intercity Railway, commuting between the two cities has become increasingly common, fostering a "dual-city life." Currently, a total of 299 kilometers of rail transit has been completed, with further expansions expected soon.

Planning the Beijiang Ecological Economic Belt

To enhance the Beijiang Ecological Economic Belt, Qingyuan Investment Group has planned a "3+3+7" layout for cargo terminals, including three hub ports, three regional public terminals, and seven dedicated terminals.

The first phase of the Qingyuan Port Feilai Gorge operation area is scheduled for completion by the end of this year, establishing a new strategic cargo terminal system for the Beijiang Ecological Economic Belt.