A moment in time: Change on rails

China's railway system has taken big strides forward in the past three decades. From the coal-powered steam engine locomotives in Beijing's Yongdingmen station in 1981 (above) to bullet trains such as the one in 2013 at the platform at Qingdao (right), trains have gotten faster and sleeker. Today's trains often travel at speeds in excess of 200 kilometers per hour, transforming travel for business and tourism. These days, China is promoting its high-speed railway technology to the world.