For the past 65 years, the United States has maintained the world’s largest interstate highway system. For the next 65 years, China is likely to maintain the world’s most extensive high-speed rail network. That enormous investment, with a long time horizon, has caused consternation both within China and outside of it.

Detractors have called it a monumental white elephant. Proponents have touted the myriad economic benefits the network brings. Returns on mega infrastructure projects are notoriously difficult to specify, and China’s HSR network is no exception. But with the passage of time, we can now better assess whether HSR was a boon or a royal boondoggle to the Chinese economy.

This unique product provides not only the simple answer to that question, but it also takes you on a journey to get up to speed with China’s bullet trains and their impact on local economies.