Rendering of the rest stop

Rendering of station typed rest stop

Rendering of the old railway mountain city footpath

Antique lamp holder

CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- A city cannot be without charm and poetry. Green train, rail, old platform... When people see these, a kind of nostalgia often arises spontaneously. Even though their history is long, they can still smell the human atmosphere in the air.

The railway of Sichuan International Studies University, which runs through the University, has become a rare and unique view in colleges and universities all over the country, and now it has become a hot scenic spot on the Internet. Last September, Shapingba District started the “old fellow railway mountain city footpath” reconstruction project. The Chongqing Evening News reporter learned that the project has basically completed the main line construction, and the planting and pavement sweeping work along the line is being carried out. The whole project is expected to be completed before the Spring Festival.

The tracks and footpaths to be intermingled

Sichuan International Studies University has two campuses, one on the mountain and one under the mountain. It is bounded by a small railway that passes through the campus. It goes from the old campus to the new campus and crosses the railway to go up the mountain. The small railway serves as the demarcation line between the old and new campuses.

“The small railway in Sichuan International Studies University is a special railway of the former Chongqing Special Steel Works. The railway is about 9 kilometers long. After coming out of the original Chongqing Special Steel Works, it passes through the Yingshanhong Tunnel and Zhazidong Tunnel on the way, passing through Sichuan International Studies University and Southwest University of Political Science & Law to Lishuwan.” According to the relevant person in charge of the project, the first phase of this old railway footpath is 3,643 meters long, and it takes 50 minutes to walk from the Zhazidong Tunnel to the Langya Radio Station. When the project was designed, it was determined that most of the rail tracks and related ancillary facilities would be retained as a landscape for people to play and relax.

“Rail tracks and trails do not conflict, but are presented at the same time, interspersed and merged.” According to the person in charge, some rails and sleepers have been damaged due to long-term disrepair, so some rails and sleepers have been removed before and need to be repaired and replaced instead of being removed.

Contained both campus memories and industrial relics

“It’s very interesting. Students call it ‘love railway’. Whether they are lovers in or off campus, they are often seen standing on both sides of the rail track, hand in hand to walk through this section of the road.” At the end of the railway in Sichuan International Studies University, Han Chunping’s shoes mending shop has opened here for more than 20 years. He and his shoes mending shop have witnessed the noise and loneliness of the small railway. This little shop, which is a little lonely, will welcome guests from all directions to talk to each other from time to time. They listen carefully to Han Chunping’s introduction of the track’s past.

In 2012, the small railway was faced with the crisis of being completely demolished, but the demolition project was stopped due to the efforts of people from all sides of society with “small railway complex”.

“In the past, I heard the train passing at least twice a day. It was loud and loud. In addition, the train was passing, the smoke was billowing, and the clothes quilts drying on the balcony also became dark. At first it was very noisy for me, but gradually, when I couldn’t hear it, I felt uncomfortable.” Luo Enrong, 66, has been here for nearly 60 years. After retiring, he set up his own balcony and some living rooms. He opened a small shop more than a year ago. The shop is called “railway time, shop on the old path”, in memory of the time when railroads are rampant. “This small railway has become a symbol of Sichuan International Studies University. I hope that the name of the store will evoke the memory of people of the university,” Luo Enrong said.

To upgrade the landscape along the line and build a rest station

From the campus of Sichuan International Studies University to the next campus of Southwest University of Political Science & Law, more than 100 meters of railway tracks connected two ends of the campus, rusty railway tracks, and quite old crosstie. The breeze blows, and leaves were rusty. Teachers and students, tourists, dog walkers come and go. Although this section of rail track was abandoned, it always seemed to be with great vitality.

The muddy section along the railway has been paved with floor tiles, and the side slopes are being replanted. Along the rail track, a row of old-fashioned street lamps stand every 5 meters.

What new landscapes will be added for people to enjoy in the reconstructed small railway in Sichuan International Studies University? The first step was to upgrade the plant landscape along the railway, such as preserving the existing trees, combing the disordered shrubs, etc., so that the green plants along the railway look more pleasant. At the same time, a rest station will be built along the railway, including catering, inquiry, public toilets and other infrastructure, to facilitate the leisure and entertainment of pedestrians, as if a “power train” has been opened here.

“The construction of the rest station is also very special, such as building a leisure station on the tabletop of the station, and then building a leisure station on which trains are placed, so that railway facilities can play a role.” The relevant person in charge of the project introduced that in order to achieve the integration of the railway and the trail, demonstration three forms of trails have been designed: one is a trail paved in the form of fallen leaves, the other is a trail that penetrates the original railroad tracks and plants, and the third is a trail that maintains the railroad tracks and lays wooden floors.

At present, the main line construction of the project has been basically completed, and the final work such as paving is in progress. It is expected to meet the public before the Spring Festival. At that time, it is expected that there will be another online celebrity scenic spot in the main city. (Translated by Luo Juan, Fathom Language Limited)