Chaotianmen-Danzishi Wharf Ferry resumed service. 

In the 1980s, simple Chaotianmen-Danzishi Ferry Terminal carried many people’s memories.

On October 1, 2008, during the National Day holiday, many citizens took ferries at Chaotianmen Wharf. (File picture）

Tourists taking photos on the ferry

CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- The first two hoarse “whistles” indicated that the passengers boarded the ferry, weighing anchor and setting the ferry. When the third sound came with the roar of a diesel engine, water waves were rolled up behind the ferry, then it headed to opposite bank slowly... This was a scene happened every day at Chongqing Ferry Terminal many years ago, which is a memory for old Chongqing residents. The memory is called “cross-river ferry”. The construction of river-crossing bridges was completed, making busy and slow ferry out of people’s sight, even the later generations know bridges rather ferry.

All seems to follow the rule of “reincarnation”. Now, Chongqing tourism rises suddenly. As a symbol of “the Most Chongqing”, ferry sees the light of development with the help of Chongqing tourism. On January 12, 2019, the most classic Chaotianmen-Danzishi Wharf Ferry resumed service. Maybe it’s not the ferry crossing the river but the feelings about Chongqing.

Memories 

On the pontoon at Chaotianmen Jiaoyun 2nd Wharf in Yuzhong District, Mr. Mo and his wife bought 2 tickets of 10 yuan from the ticket seller. A welcoming and seeing off scene half a century ago was printed on tickets.

“I’m not one of the most emotional persons to the ferry.” 67-year-old Mr. Mo said that he lives in Shapingba District, so he was not really the frequenter compared with those residents lived up to the ferry in old Jiangbei District, old Yuzhong District and old Danzishi. His cousin lived at Danzishi, Nan’an District. They had a good relationship, so he nearly visited his cousin every week, and accordingly generated feelings about the ferry.

Ms. Li is an old Chongqing person born in Danzishi. Her most expected thing was taking ferry to Jiefangbei with her mother when she was a kid. Her mother always allowed her to buy 2 pieces of Lotus Root Salad or Fried Glutinous Rice Cakes, which were the biggest attractions to her.

Cross-river ferry route

Speaking of the ferry, Chongqing literature and history expert Xiao Nengzhu was enthusiastic. The 1980s is the most glorious period for Chongqing ferry. There were 19 cross-river ferry routes to main districts and some towns along the river. The ferry started about 05:00 every day and ran every several minutes. The last ferry would finish sailing until 10:00 in the evening. The average daily passenger volume exceeded 100 thousand visits.

“Many working units will stop running when it occurs floods or heavy fogs.” Xiao Nengzhu said that a ferry is almost one of the traffic lifelines in Chongqing. Suspension of ferry service means students can’t attend classes and workers can’t go to work on time.

A ferry is like a bus. The only difference is that there is no stop along the route of cross-river ferry.

“Pontoon wharf at Chaotianmen is special.” said Xiao Nengzhu, the common sense for Chongqing people was that where was the destinations from Chuqimen and Wanglongmen. Chaotianmen was an exception because every water wharf has only one destination. There are 2 routes to Yemaoxi and Danzishi respectively at Chaotianmen Wharf. Information was marked on tickets. While many people still took the wrong ferry without guidance when taking a ferry.

Reborn 

“It’s one of the most classic routes.” the person in charge of Chongqing Passenger Liner Co, Ltd said that, Chaotianmen-Danzishi ferry is one of the route opened since 1938, the foundation of the company, which carries many Chongqing people’s memories and emotions.

About 2011, this ferry suspended service with Chaotianmen-Yemaoxi Ferry Terminal reserved. But in recent years, thanks to the open of Danzishi Old Street, rich tourism resources at Nanbin Road and the influences of dredging project of Yangtze River waterway, from January 12, 2019, Chaotianmen-Danzishi Wharf Ferry resumed service officially. The round ferry stops at Jiangbeizui Wharf, and then sails to the destination, with 10 shifts a day.

Perhaps, the ferry will reborn in a unique way! (Translated by Mao Qiao, Fathom Language Limited)