Based on the data on real estate, retail, and tourism in 250 peripheral cities of China from 2000 to 2018, we use a difference-in-difference method to examine the impact of the introduction of highspeed rail (HSR) on population-sensitive industries. Generally, HSR produces positive effects on the above industries in peripheral cities, while such effects gradually decrease as the distance from the peripheral cities to major cities increases. The spatial extents of the effect of HSR on real estate, retail, and tourism are 748 km, 485 km, and 315 km, respectively, yielding a 1-3-hour service circle.