Jingzhang Railway
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105-year-old railway station in Hebei closes
A train station in China reached the end of the line on Monday night after 105 years of service. Zhangjiakou Station, the terminal station of Jingzhang Rail that links Zhangjiakou, Hebei province, with Beijing, will no longer be used for passenger trains, according to the Jingzhang Rail administration. Jingzhang Rail was the first railway wholly financed by domestic money, and took Chinese workers four years to build. Two trains a day used to stop at the station.
China in vanguard of scientific progress
Science answers the question "why," while engineers modify nature according to scientific principle, construct a new society, and tell people how to do it. The material civilization that people enjoy in modern society is mainly created by engineering technology. Therefore, engineers are irreplaceable creators of new industry. In fact, science and technology made great strides in the 20th century. Estimates reveal that 80 per cent of global scientific discoveries, technological innovations and engineering constructions were attributed to scientists and engineers of the 20th century. Engineering achievements in the 20th century surpassed the wildest imagination of people in the 19th century. But China's history is completely different from the rest of the world. When New China was founded in 1949, after the Chinese experienced a century of humiliation and war, the Chinese people had to start the industrialization process from scratch, 200 years after Europe. We are gratified to see that Chinese scientists and engineers have made historic contributions to their motherland, even with some twist and turns. From the Jingzhang (Beijing-Zhangjiakou) Railway and Yumen Oilfield to Qiantang Bridge built by the Chinese in the early 20th century; from the Daqing Oilfield and the Yangtze River Bridge in Nanjing to the nuclear energy in the 1960s; from satellites to hybrid rice in the 1970s and 1980s, all these achievements paved the way for China's era of industrialization and modernization. Within 50 years, China succeeded in establishing an independent industrial system. Since the opening-up and reform of the country initiated by Deng Xiaoping, Chinese engineers have made further critical contributions to the high-speed economic growth, which has averaged 9 per cent annually, and to the marked social progress of the past 20 years. At the beginning of the new century, members of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) and other people from associations and societies under the China Association for Science and Technology, together with agencies affiliated with the State Council, cast their ballots to select "significant achievements of engineering technology in China in the 20th century," an activity sponsored by CAE. The peer ballot selected 25 items as the most significant for China and the achievements' stories are being compiled into a document to provide the society with a comparatively accurate description on the importance of engineering technology in China. China's research and development in atomic energy and satellites ranked the first on the ballot. The decision to develop atomic energy and space technology, made by the late Chairman Mao Zedong, was of great significance. When the decision was made between 1955 and 1956, the People's Republic of China was young and there was a lack of qualified experts. Science and technology were backward, and the industrial system was not established. However, it took only 15 years for Chinese scientists and engineers to complete the design and construction of, and successful experiments with, missiles (1964), the atomic bomb (1964), and the hydrogen bomb (1967). China also sent its first satellite into orbit in 1970, and its first nuclear-powered submarine set sail in 1971. These achievements put an end to the dispute about whether China could develop its industry, science and technology by itself. Looking back, we have reason to be gratified by all the Chinese engineering community achieved in the 20th century. But looking forward, all that is only a prelude to a bigger industrialization drive. The climax of the industrialization and modernization drive is still to come.
Best-kept holiday secrets
If you are in Beijing as a tourist during the week-long May Day holiday: congratulations! You are about to see, not only Beijing and China's great historical relics, but also the biggest flow of its domestic travelers! Those keen to avoid the crowds may have decided the holiday from May 1-7 is not the best time to take in the major spots on the tourist map. A smart option is to do as the Beijingers do: head to the capital's outskirts to appreciate some wonderful scenes without the crush inside the city. BJW brings you an insider's guide with our pick of the 10 most beautiful and unexpected travel destinations. These attractions are popular with locals, but largely unknown by visitors. Enjoy! Huanghuacheng Great Wall In summer, yellow flowers (huanghua) bloom everywhere at this part of the countryside, hence the village's name. The Great Wall here is the only part known to be submerged under water of the Xishuiyu reservoir. People can row boats, fish and cable slide over the lake, or hike on the old Wall. This part of the Wall is under renovation, with work expected to be completed later this year, and will become the 5th restored part of the Great Wall open to tourists. Until then, people can go and see wall in its pre-restored state. Location: Northwest of Huairou District, 70 kilometers from city, an hour and a half car ride. To get there: Madianqiao on 3rd Ring Road Badaling Express Way, get off at Changping's Xiguan traffic isle Ming tombs direction Changling Tomb Jiuduhe Huanghuazhen Township, Sihai Direction. Or take bus No 916 at Dongzhimen, get off at Huairou Guoji Huiyi Zhongxin (International Convention Center), take deep blue bus opposite street with the signs of Xishuiyu, and get off at the terminal. Qinglong Gorge The so-called "black dragon" valley is home to a reservoir measuring 55.6 square kilometers, part of which is open to tourists for boating and yachting. Besides that there is the wild section of the Great Wall on the mountain that has not been renovated. It is best to take a cable car up the mountains, explore by foot, and then walk down. There is bungee, sliding and air gliding. Location: 20 kilometers northwest of Huairou. 75 kilometers from Sanyuanqiao on North 3rd Ring Road. To get there: Jingchen Express Way North 6th Ring Road JingmiLu turn right at Huairou Kaifang Traffic Isle head north on Huaifeng Road Simatai Great Wall This is local foreign expat's favorite part of the Great Wall, one of the few parts of the Wall that attains its original Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) looks. Mountain views here are more varied, meaning drastic rises and falls of the Wall. It is also a favorite of hikers, who usually walk from the nearby Jinshanling section, taking 4 hours. Many parts are quite steep, although you can take a cable car up the mountains. Location: Gubeikou Township, Miyun County. 120 kilometers from the city, 2 hours to the Wall. To get there: take bus No 980 or 970 at Dongzhimen, get off at Miyun Bus Station, and change to mini vans. A return minivan ticket costs 30-100 yuan, depending on how many people in your group, and how well you negotiate. Or drive via Jingcheng Expressway, get off at North Miyun exit, and change to 101 State Highway, before arriving at Gubeikou, Miyun County. 6903-1051. Shidu The place gets its name because it is said to be the 10th water crossing (shidu). There are plenty of shallow rivers flowing between peaks, with pebble beaches. The 10th crossing is the most developed, with restaurants, boating, punting, a cable route up onto a mountain, and sight-seeing inside the mountains. But if you go further, where there would be less people, you'll discover there are more than 20 similar crossings, with similar features such as a suspension bridge leading onto stairs winding inside the mountains. Great place to enjoy water and mountain sights. Location: Shidu and Zhangfang in Fangshan District, 96 kilometers from city. To get there: take bus 917's Shidu route at Tianqiao to arrive directly. Or take tour bus No 10 at Qianmen, Fuchengmen, or Xuanwumen during weekend and holidays. Or take Suburbs No 7 train at Beijing South Railway Station to arrive at Shidu. Drive on Jingshi Expressway to get off at Liulihe exit Liulihe Yueli Lu Yuegezhuang Yunjusi Lu Zhouzhang Lu Zhangbao Lu Shidu . Jiankou Great Wall This part of the Wall is famous because of the steep-turning mountains shaped like a W. It is also photographers' favorite. Shanzi Village at the bottom of the mountain is a regular residence for many tourists. There is a trout-raising base at the bottom of the Wall, where the fish can be tailor-made according to tourist's requirement. Location: Badaohe, northwest of Huairou, less than 100 kilometers from Beijing. To get there: Take bus 916 at Dongzhimen, change to bus heading Mutianyu, to arrive at Xinying , then change to mini-bus to go to Zhenzhuquan . Or take bus 916 to get to Huairou, take minivan to get to Xizhazi Village . Drive on Jingcheng Expressway, get off at 6th Ring Road to head east. Get out at Liuyuan Qiao to drive on Jingshun Lu Huairou Kaifang traffic isle Fule traffic isle Yanqi traffic isle Badaohe bridge Xizhazi Village. Xiangshui Lake Plenty of water flows at this serene resort, the "ringing water" lake. Besides the lake a stream basically follows the path into the mountains. There is also a section of un-renovated Great Wall. Location: to the west of Mutianyu Great Wall in Huairou District. 78 kilometers from Beijing. To get there: Take suburb train No 1 at 8:32am at Beijing Railway Station, or take suburb train No 3 at 7:13am at Xizhimen Railway Station, get off at Beizhaiya , there is a bus waiting to send you to Xiangshuihu. If you buy entry ticket at the railway station, train ticket is free single-way. Or take bus 916, 936 at Dongzhimen and get off at Huairou International Convention Center, and change to another bus. Drive on Airport Expressway Jingmi Lu Huairou Mutianyu traffic isle go west for 8 kilometers to arrive. Longqing Gorge The valley is dubbed "small Lijiang river", or "small three gorges" in North China. Boats take tourists to go deep into mountains on a big river between valleys, till you need to walk up a hill, with a temple at mid-way. The trail continues much further into the mountains, for the more adventurous. This place is much colder than inside the city, and has ice lamps and sculptures to see in winter. Location: 15 kilometers northeast of Yanqing County, and 80 kilometers from Beijing city center. How to get there: Take bus 919 at Deshengmen to get to Yanqing County, change to bus to arrive, or take tour bus No 8 at Qianmen, or Andingmen to arrive. Drive on Badaling Expressway to get to Yanqing, go further on Jingzhang (Beijing-Zhangjiakou) Highway to arrive. Baiwang Mountain Located just three kilometers to the north of Summer Palace, Baiwangshan is the closest forest park to Beijing. With vegetation coverage of more than 95 percent, this park is known as Beijing's oxygen source. Now is the perfect time to go climb the mountain, and appreciate green trees and spring flowers. Location: three kilometers northwest of Summer Palace To get there: take buses No 330, 716, 718, 722, 752, 903, 933, or Yuntong 112 to get to Baiwangshan, or Heishanhu Beikou . Drive to get to Xiaoying traffic isle , or Shangdi traffic isle , head west to arrive. Miaofeng Mountain This mountain range is known for ancient temples, specially shaped pine trees and rocks, as well as a great variety of plants and flowers. There are more than 600 different kinds of trees, and plenty of peach trees, cloves and mountain lilies. It is especially known for large patches of roses. Location: Mentougou, 55 kilometers west of Beijing To get there: take bus 326, or 336 at Pingguoyuan Station of subway Line 1, get off at Hetan and change to long-distance bus to arrive. There is also mini-bus at Pingguoyuan which can get to the mountain directly. Drive on Fushi Lu Longquan Hotel Danli Village Miaofengshan. Kangxi Grassland This is the nearest grassland to Beijing. You can stay in Mongolian style yurts, barbeque, fish, and attend a bonfire party. The place is one of the 1st to set up a professional horse-riding field measuring more than 100,000 square meters. It is also near Guanting reservoir. Location: 15 kilometers west of Badaling Great Wall, 80 kilometers from Beijing. To get there: take bus 919 at Deshengmen from 7-9am to arrive directly. Bus comes back from 2-5pm. Or take trains No 575, 577, 581 to get to Kangzhuang Station . Drive on Badaling Expressway Kangzhuang exit turn left at three-way crossroad to head for Kangxi Grassland and Wild Duck Lake turn right to arrive.
Knowledge Graph
Examples
1 It will be located along the 174-kilometer Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway, which is still under construction.
2 Great walls, stunning prairies and mysterious ancestral cultures are closer than you think at Zhang Jiakou, a must-see city which is a 200 km ride along Jingzhang Expressway from Beijing.
3 To enter Beijing from the northwest, trucks weighing more than 4 tons must pass through the Jingxin Expressway (a section that overlaps the Beijing-Tibet Expressway) in Zhangjiakou, which later merges with Danla, Xuanda and Jingzhang expressways and National Highway 110.