By the end of 2025, the Xi'an-Yan'an high-speed railway will commence operations, establishing a "1-hour economic circle" between the Guanzhong Plain and Northern Shaanxi. This "steel artery" is invigorating the economic and cultural pulse along its route and reshaping the development landscape of the old revolutionary base area in Northern Shaanxi.

The combination of a retro-style block and the high-speed railway has contributed to a noticeable increase in tourist traffic at scenic spots. The reporter's location is named "Yan'an 1938 Block." As the name suggests, it recreates the streets and markets of old Yan'an city from 1938. Even though it is a weekday, the block remains bustling with crowds. This is partly due to its inherent distinctiveness, which integrates historical scenes, intangible cultural heritage skills, local delicacies, and interactive performances. Visitors can enjoy a bowl of steaming Minjie noodles, experience Shaanbei paper-cutting firsthand, or stumble upon an impromptu performance. These thoughtful details transform red history from static displays into vivid, tangible, and participatory experiences. Furthermore, the nearby Yan'an Station continuously supplies a stream of visitors, and the opening of the Xi'an-Yan'an high-speed railway 20 days ago has further boosted its popularity, leading to a significant increase in independent travelers and family tourists arriving by train. Statistics show that during the New Year's Day holiday this year, the Yan'an 1938 Block received over 17,000 visitors, a year-on-year increase of 19.9%.

The "fast travel, slow tourism" model enabled by the high-speed railway is driving a deep transformation of Yan'an's cultural tourism from a "transit-style" to an "immersive" experience, and from "single-point check-ins" to "comprehensive regional exploration." This shift is reflected not only in travel patterns but also in the optimization and coordination of scenic area services. For instance, Baota Mountain, Yan'an's iconic landmark, officially implemented a free admission policy starting this New Year's Day, making it more accessible for visitors. Similarly, the Hukou Waterfall of the Yellow River has also adopted a free ticket policy, which will last until February 10th, allowing tourists to freely admire the spectacular winter wonder of the "ice waterfall and jade kettle." Concurrently, venues like the Jinyan'an Ski Resort have introduced discounts tied to Xi'an-Yan'an high-speed railway tickets, allowing ticket holders to enjoy special package deals. This clever use of "ticket stub economics" effectively helps Yan'an's winter tourism avoid the traditional off-season slump. According to projections from relevant departments, after the opening of the Xi'an-Yan'an high-speed railway, Yan'an's annual tourist reception volume is expected to exceed 50 million人次.

Of course, the Xi'an-Yan'an high-speed railway brings not only tourist vitality to local cultural tourism but also provides development opportunities for other industries. A vivid example is the apple industry in Luochuan County, Yan'an City. Previously, despite the high quality of Luochuan apples, logistics posed a significant challenge. Now, high-speed rail express delivery makes "picked in the morning, on the table by evening" a reality. Staff from the industrial park explained that apples picked in the morning can reach Xi'an and Beijing in the afternoon, and can arrive directly in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area within 24 hours, with the loss rate during transportation reduced from the original 15% to below 2%. By 2025, the apple cultivation area in Yan'an City had already exceeded 3 million mu. The opening of the Xi'an-Yan'an high-speed railway directly extends the sales channels for these apples while indirectly enhancing brand influence, allowing this "fruit of prosperity" to reach broader markets.

A high-speed railway alters not just the speed of travel, but the very dimensions of development for the old revolutionary base area. It brings not just shuttling trains, but surging flows of people, goods, capital, and information, continuously infusing new vitality into this revered red soil.