The partially built line was destroyed during the Boxer Rebellion between March and July 1900, causing the project to be suspended.

After the creation of the Japanese puppet state of Manchukuo in 1932, the CER became a Soviet-Manchukuo joint enterprise, and was renamed the "North Manchuria Railway".

To expand the capacity of the line, China Railway decided to build a second tunnel, 3,900 m (12,800 ft) in length, in 1961, but construction was suspended a year later.

In 1946, it was converted back to standard gauge once again, and the double tracking was removed; the rails taken up were used to repair other lines.

The double tracking of the section from Harbin to Mudanjiang was rebuilt by China Railways in 1958.