Haikus: Written in Praise of the Beijing-Zhangjiakou High-Speed Railway and the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games

Century-old Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway

A typical symbol of Heaven’s blessings for China

A light of hope of national rejuvenation

Note: The Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway consists of two rail lines - an old line and a new line. The new line, called the Beijing-Zhangjiakou high-speed railway, is made for smart bullet trains that run at 350 kilometers an hour, which is a historic leap over the old line that was built a hundred years ago to service trains that ran at only 35 kilometers an hour. From 1909 to 2019, the evolution from the opening of the first railway designed and built independently by Chinese to the entry into service of the Beijing-Zhangjiakou high-speed railway marks not just a leap forward in speed from 35 to 350 kilometers per hour, but also remarkable growth of China’s national strength. From the lens of history of the past 100 years, I can see clearly how special the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway is because it is a witness both to the development of China’s railway system and to the development of the country itself.

Smart high-speed trains came a long way from days old

Auspicious Snow, ushering in spring, shows snow is not always cold

Dragon and Phoenix can now bring luck to those who seek gold

Note: Smart bullet trains, which are part of the Fuxing series made for athletes and other passengers to travel during the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games, feature two painted exterior designs: Long Feng Cheng Xiang (Auspicious Dragon and Phoenix Racing in Harmony) and Rui Xue Ying Chun (Auspicious Snow Ushering in Spring). These flying beauties will certainly benefit those who race against time.

A railway platform at a hundred meters below ground?

How was it done? By way of drill and blast and small vibration

To keep the Great Wall safe and sound

Note: Badaling Great Wall Station on the Beijing-Zhangjiakou high-speed railway lying 102 meters underground is so far the largest underground high-speed railway station in the world. To protect the ancient Great Wall, railway builders creatively used precise microdamage blasting technology to successfully complete the construction project.

Historic Qinglongqiao Station

From a deep valley still shines brilliant

Great is the herringbone track that overcame the steep gradient!

Note: When the historic Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway was being built, Zhan Tianyou and his engineering team creatively designed a zigzag section near Qinglongqiao Station to overcome the steep gradient. Using a locomotive at each end of the train, with the front one pulling and the rear one pushing, the train smoothly and safely passed through the valley. Today, the century-old station is still in service.

Taizicheng Station spanning the skyline

A big eye gazing at the Olympic Medals Plaza and its moment to shine

The world will be enthralled by it all

Note: Taizicheng Station on the Beijing-Zhangjiakou high-speed railway is in the Taizicheng Olympic Village area in Chongli District, Zhangjiakou, the co-host city of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games. The oval glass building on the Taizicheng Station Plaza directly facing the Olympic Medals Plaza is called the “Olympic Eye” where 51 gold medals will be awarded. The award ceremonies will be held in a natural environment featuring Taizicheng Station, the Town of Snow and Ice and the surrounding mountains.

A proud town of snow and ice

Welcomes the world’s top athletes with love and hospitality

All five continents will be strengthened by Olympism and unity

Note: At Taizicheng Station Plaza, a multifunctional town integrating accommodation, conference halls, a business center, and catering, leisure, and entertainment facilities, is being built to serve guests from all parts of the world.

A fun stadium built on a snow peak

Drops a Snow Ruyi stretching down 160 meters

Blooming like a white flower in midair

Note: To meet the needs of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games, the city of Zhangjiakou under the aegis of high mountains has built a National Ski Jumping Center nicknamed Snow Ruyi. The difference between the highest point of the stadium and the ground is more than 160 meters. Shaped like a Ruyi, an ornamental scepter traditionally symbolizing power and good fortune in China, the building is a gorgeous attraction.