A journey through the tracks of time
Known as an engineering marvel, a century-old railway in Yunnan province now attracts scores of visitors interested in its history, colonial architecture
Comparing past and present
As many pictures and details of the railway's construction have been kept by members of the foreign construction team, many visitors choose to visit the places where the old pictures were taken to see how things have changed.
People can hike to the spot where the cliff above the railway was carved in the shape of the mouth of a roaring tiger, making just enough space for the train to go through.
They can also walk along the railway to reach a waterfall that still flows over the side of the mountain next to the railway track, forming the same stunning view combining the beauty of nature and engineering as captured in photos more than a century ago.
Also, spotting steel sleepers shipped from Europe that are still in use is a surreal and unique experience for travelers hiking along the railway.
Visitors are still able to spot the manufacturers of the railway track from the faded trademarks on the sleepers, such as German company Bochumer Verein Verkehrstechnik that has been manufacturing railway components since the invention of the railway system in Europe.
Moreover, the French-style stations along the railway have become a hit on Chinese social media, especially after the 2017 Chinese movie Youth was filmed at the stations, including Zhicun and Bisezhai in Mengzi city, capital of Honghe. They are among 34 stations that were put to use when the Chinese section of the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway was open to traffic in 1910.
The ending scene of Youth was shot at the platform of Zhicun station, which is still in use. The station has been well preserved with its original features intact, such as the mustard-colored walls and arched doors.
In a century of railway operations, several changes took place, including increasing or decreasing the number of stations, to meet the needs of freight transport and passenger services.
Nine small additional stations were built in 1922 due to increasing needs for transport volume. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, seven more stations were built to expand transport capacity. A total of 62 stations have been used over time.
