100 Yuan Beijing-Shanghai High Speed Rail Opening

The Beijing-Shanghai high-speed line opened on June 30, 2011, after roughly four years of construction at a reported cost exceeding 220 billion yuan — then the single most expensive railway project in history. The commemorative issue followed standard People's Bank practice for infrastructure milestones, with gold coins produced in strictly limited quantities through the China Gold Coin Corporation.

The line covers 1,318 kilometers and was engineered for operating speeds of 350 km/h, though services were throttled to 300 km/h shortly after opening following a fatal collision near Wenzhou in July 2011 that killed 40 people and triggered a national safety review.