China has set a new world record in magnetic levitation technology after scientists accelerated a one-tonne maglev vehicle to 700 kilometers per hour in just two seconds. The test was conducted on a 400-meter experimental track by researchers at the National University of Defence Technology.
Footage from the test, widely shared on social media and Chinese media outlets, shows a chassis-like vehicle rapidly crossing the track while leaving behind a misty trail. The experiment highlights major advances in extreme acceleration performance and high-power control systems for superconducting electric maglev platforms.
According to state broadcaster CCTV, the achievement addresses key technical challenges, including ultra-high-speed electromagnetic propulsion, electric suspension and guidance, high-power transient energy conversion, and high-field superconducting magnets.
This latest result improves on the team’s previous record of 648 km/h achieved in January on the same track. Decades of sustained research have positioned China as a global leader in maglev innovation, building on experience gained since launching its first manned maglev train more than 30 years ago.
Professor Li Jie, who led the development of Beijing’s first commercial maglev subway line, noted that the breakthrough will accelerate progress toward ultra-high-speed maglev transportation systems across the country.
China has steadily advanced in this field in recent years. In 2020, CRRC Qingdao Sifang tested a 600 km/h maglev prototype, while Southwest Jiaotong University developed a high-temperature superconducting maglev system in Chengdu designed to exceed similar speeds.
The latest phase of development includes a 2-kilometer low-vacuum test line in Datong, built in cooperation with the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation. The project targets future speeds of up to 1,000 km/h, with potential applications ranging from city-to-city travel in vacuum tubes to more efficient aerospace launches and advanced ground-based flight testing.