China＇s　high　speed　rail　(HSR)　network　has　been　rapidly　constructed　and　developed　during　the　past　10　years.　However,　few　studies　have　reported　the　spatiotemporal　changes　of　railway　network　structures　and　how　those　structures　have　been　affected　by　the　operation　of　high　speed　rail　systems　in　different　periods.　This　paper　analyzes　the　evolving　network　characteristics　of　China＇s　railway　network　during　each　of　the　four　main　stages　of　HSR　development　over　a　10-year　period.　These　four　stages　include　Stage　1,　when　no　HSR　was　in　place　prior　to　August　2008;　Stage　2,　when　several　HSR　lines　were　put　into　operation　between　August　2008,　and　July　2011;　Stage　3,　when　the　network　skeleton　of　most　main　HSR　lines　was　put　into　place.　This　covered　the　period　until　January　2013.　Finally,　Stage　4　covers　the　deep　intensification　of　several　new　HSR　lines　and　the　rapid　development　of　intercity-HSR　railway　lines　between　January　2013,　and　July　2017.　This　paper　presents　a　detailed　analysis　of　the　timetable-based　statistical　properties　of　China＇s　railway　network,　as　well　as　the　spatiotemporal　patterns　of　the　more　than　2700　stations　that　have　been　affected　by　the　opening　of　HSR　lines　and　the　corresponding　policy　changes.　Generally,　we　find　that　the　distribution　of　both　degrees　and　strengths　are　characterized　by　scale-free　patterns.　In　addition,　the　decreasing　average　path　length　and　increasing　network　clustering　coefficient　indicate　that　the　small　world　characteristic　is　more　significant　in　the　evolution　of　China＇s　railway　network.　Correlations　between　different　network　indices　are　explored,　in　order　to　further　investigate　the　dynamics　of　China＇s　railway　system.　Overall,　our　study　offers　a　new　approach　for　assessing　the　growth　and　evolution　of　a　real　railway　network　based　on　train　timetables.　Our　study　can　also　be　referenced　by　policymakers　looking　to　adjust　HSR　operations　and　plan　future　HSR　routes.