Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the progress and achievements of the Yangtze River Economic Belt over the past decade, emphasizing ecological protection and sustainable development as key priorities, with significant improvements in water quality and economic growth [1]. Group 1: Achievements of the Yangtze River Economic Belt - The proportion of good water quality in the Yangtze River Economic Belt increased from 67% to 96.5% over the past ten years [1]. - The regional GDP more than doubled, rising from 42.2% to 47.3% of the national total [1]. Group 2: Key Developments in the Yangtze River Middle Reaches Urban Agglomeration and Wuhan Metropolitan Area - The establishment of the Yangtze River Middle Reaches Urban Agglomeration Research Institute on November 16, 2025, marks a significant step in regional development [3]. - The ten major events for the Yangtze River Middle Reaches Urban Agglomeration include the recognition of its role as a growth pole for high-quality development and the establishment of various collaborative initiatives among provinces [3][4]. - The Wuhan Metropolitan Area's ten major events include the approval of the "1+8" city positioning in the 14th Five-Year Plan and the establishment of an offshore innovation alliance [16][24]. Group 3: Strategic Initiatives and Collaborations - The Hubei provincial government is advancing the collaborative development of the Yangtze River Middle Reaches Urban Agglomeration, focusing on leveraging the strengths of Hubei, Hunan, and Jiangxi provinces [7]. - The establishment of the "Xiang-Gan Border Cultural Tourism Alliance" aims to enhance cooperation in cultural tourism between Hunan and Jiangxi [10]. - The approval of the Three Gorges Waterway New Channel project is a strategic decision to promote high-quality development in the Yangtze River Economic Belt [11]. Group 4: Infrastructure and Economic Development - The Yangtze River Middle Reaches Urban Agglomeration has made strides in data element collaboration, with a strategic cooperation agreement signed among data industry groups from Hunan, Hubei, and Jiangxi [12]. - The establishment of a multi-modal transport enterprise alliance aims to optimize operations and enhance connectivity among ports in the region [13]. - The World VR Industry Conference held in Nanchang in 2025 focuses on the integration of VR and AI technologies, showcasing the region's commitment to innovation [15].

2025.12. 15 本文字数：1499，阅读时长大约2分钟 作者 | 第一财经 周芳 长江中游城市群正抱团冲刺中国经济"第五极"。 未来，联盟成员企业将常态化优化运营"中三角"省际集装箱公共班轮，加密武汉阳逻港与岳阳、九江 等港口城际航线，打造"水上公交"网络，推动与海关、铁路及联盟成员数据互通互认。 在科技创新领域，长江中游城市群已相继成立科技成果转化联盟、鄂湘赣三省大学科技园联盟、科技 服务联盟、鄂皖赣无线电产业联盟等区域联动合作组织。其中，科技服务联盟汇聚了2200余家科技 服务机构，已累计促成科技服务交易327笔，交易额达1.21亿元，有效推动了技术、人才等创新要素 的融合与共享。该联盟还与大学科技园联盟、知识产权合作等机制联动，进一步提升了区域科技创新 效率。 中 国 城 市 经 济 学 会 副 会 长 秦 尊 文 对 第 一 财 经 记 者 表 示 ， 联 盟 的 建 立 可 推 动 长 江 中 游 城 市 群 从"联"到"融"，以武汉、长沙、南昌等为引领，带动周边城市协同发展，形成"强核-壮圈-带群"的空间 格局，有效提升长江中游城市群在全国区域格局中的地位。 近五年，长江中游城市群发明专利 ...

Core Points - The Yichang to Changde High-Speed Railway is expected to start construction within this year and be completed by the end of 2029, covering a distance of 234.4 kilometers with a design speed of 350 km/h and a total investment of approximately 32.47 billion yuan [1] - The railway will significantly reduce travel time between Yichang and Changde to about 1.5 hours, and to Changsha in approximately 2.5 hours, cutting the current travel time by more than half [1] - The project is a key component of China's "Eight Vertical and Eight Horizontal" high-speed rail network and is highlighted in the "14th Five-Year Plan" for the development of the Yangtze River Middle Reaches Urban Agglomeration [1] Project Background - The Yichang to Changde Railway has been in planning since 2017, but progress was slow due to disagreements between Hunan and Hubei provinces regarding the route and prioritization of other rail projects [1] - In 2023, the railway was included in the national reserve for construction, leading to accelerated progress, including the approval of feasibility studies and environmental impact reports [1] Regional Impact - Yichang, as a sub-central city in Hubei, is expected to benefit directly from the railway, contributing to the development of a "cross-regional" high-speed rail network [3] - Changde's transportation status will improve, providing a foundation for its aspirations to become a provincial sub-central city [3] - The railway is seen as a vital link in enhancing regional connectivity and supporting the development of secondary cities in the Yangtze River Middle Reaches Urban Agglomeration [3][4] Strategic Importance - The Yichang to Changde Railway is the second high-speed rail connection between Hunan and Hubei, following the Wuhan-Guangzhou High-Speed Railway, and is expected to alleviate transportation bottlenecks in the northwestern Hunan and southwestern Hubei regions [4] - There are future prospects for extending the railway towards the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area, potentially bringing more opportunities to cities like Yichang and Changde [4]

Core Points - The construction of the Yichang to Changde high-speed railway (Yichang High-speed Railway) is set to commence, with bidding planned to start in November 2025 [2][3] - The railway is a key segment of the "Eight Vertical and Eight Horizontal" high-speed rail network and is part of the transportation infrastructure priorities outlined in the "14th Five-Year Plan" for the development of the Yangtze River Middle Reaches Urban Agglomeration [4][9] Summary by Sections Project Overview - The Yichang to Changde high-speed railway will span approximately 234 kilometers, with a newly constructed section of about 184 kilometers designed for a speed of 350 kilometers per hour [4][9] - The project has received significant attention since at least 2018, with various proposals and suggestions from representatives and the public [7] Development Progress - The project faced delays due to planning adjustments, but significant progress has been made in 2023, including the approval of the feasibility study and environmental impact report [8] - The construction plan is a result of collaborative efforts between Hubei and Hunan provinces, with multiple rounds of discussions to finalize the route and construction timeline [8] Regional Impact - The Yichang High-speed Railway will enhance connectivity between cities in the Yangtze River Middle Reaches, reducing travel time from Yichang to Changde from approximately 3.5 hours to about 1.5 hours [9] - It will also facilitate quicker travel from Yichang to Changsha, cutting the time by nearly half compared to current routes [9] Strategic Importance - Yichang is positioned as a sub-central city in Hubei province, playing a crucial role in national strategies for the development of the Yangtze Economic Belt and the central region [11] - The railway will contribute to the formation of a regional comprehensive transportation and logistics hub in Changde, which is a significant node in the Yangtze Economic Belt [13] Future Developments - The Yichang High-speed Railway is part of a broader initiative to enhance the high-speed rail network in the region, with other projects also moving forward, such as the Changsha to Ganzhou high-speed railway [13] - The completion of the railway will connect various urban agglomerations and facilitate economic development across multiple regions, including potential extensions to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area [14][15]