To test high-speed traffic at speeds of up to 200 km/h on classic lines, China Railway leased a tilting X2000 from Adtranz in Germany in 1996 that was normally used by the Swedish SJ. Since these trials were successful, Zhouzhou Electric Locomotive Works and Changchung Passenger Car Works designed the DJJ1 on the basis of the X2000. In 2000 and 2001, a total of eight power cars and 48 passenger cars were built. Usually a set was composed of a power car, four or five trailers and a control car. Another possible configuration was two power cars and ten trailers, without any control cars. They were dubbed “Blue Arrow” by CR.

They also had three-phase motors, a tilting mechanism and the MITRAC control system developed by Adtranz. Top speed was still 210 km/h, but the output per power car had been increased from 4,000 to 4,800 kW. Test runs were initially conducted at 160 km/h, but soon the approved service speed was increased to 200 km/h. It took some time until all teething problems were solved and reliability had become high enough. After the semi-experimental service on the Guangzhou-Shenzhen line had been completed and more modern high speed trains had been introduced, they were sold to the Chengdu Railway in 2008 for regular service. When it became evident that the frames had worn out and were not safe anymore in 2012, they were retired.