"The high-speed railway in China is amazing. The trains run fast and smoothly, saving me travel time "says Ben Lor, a Chinese-American who makes multiple trips every year in China by such trains.

In the past 10 years, Xu has continued to work hard on the highspeed railway network. To date, he has taken part in the design of over 20 high-speed railway projects.

"Now high-speed railways are built through valleys, deserts and high altitudes in the country. Our technologies are now among the world's leading ones," says Xu.

China now has the world's longest high-speed railway network covering 29,000 kilometers and perhaps the most modern.

Xu has witnessed this development firsthand. But he owes a lot to his family.

"During those years of working on Wu-Guang high-speed railway, I spent more than 200 days a year at the construction sites," says Xu. "My wife shouldered most of the responsibility of our family. She is very supportive."