The second cross-border railway linking China and Mongolia has entered a major construction phase, with workers completing the installation of the project's first prefabricated T-shaped bridge girder on May 10.

The Ganqimaodu-Gashuunsukhait Railway will become the second railway connection between the two countries in nearly 70 years, following the opening of the Ereenhot-Zamyn-Uud Railway in 1956.

Once completed, the railway is expected to handle up to 30 million tons of cargo annually, connecting China's Ganqimaodu-Wanshuiquan Railway with Mongolia's southbound rail network to further boost bilateral trade, infrastructure connectivity, and economic exchanges along the route.

The railway, which is being advanced under the principle of "unified design, separate construction, and one-time connection," starts from China's Ganqimaodu Port, crosses the border, and links to Gashuunsukhait Station in Mongolia's Ömnögovi (South Gobi) Province.

Construction began in May 2025, stretches 9.91 kilometers, including a 6.08-km cross-border bridge section requiring 760 prefabricated T-girders, and is expected to be completed in 2027.

Builders face harsh conditions in the Gobi Desert, where strong winds and frequent sandstorms pose major challenges, especially for high-altitude lifting operations.

Foundation and pier construction is about 26 percent complete, with 268 girders already prefabricated. All bridge girder installation work is expected to finish by October this year.