Telling the story of the old and new Chengdu-Kunming Railway, a new book sharing session for the long-form reportage -Dacheng-Kunming- was held

On October 12, during an event in Xichang, Sichuan province, train conductor Axi Aijia reflected nostalgically on her experiences with the “Little Slow Train” on the old Cheng-Kun railway, famously known for being honored as the “Most Beautiful Railway Person.” She shared memories of riding the “Little Slow Train” to school as a child and later becoming a conductor herself. “The ‘Little Slow Train’ serves as the ‘market wagon’ and ‘prosperity train’ for my Yi ethnic community, as well as the ‘school bus’ for local children,” she said.

The nostalgic sound of the old railway’s horn hasn’t faded away, as the new Cheng-Kun high-speed trains are now speeding through the region. Today, both the old and new Cheng-Kun railways connect Sichuan and Yunnan, contributing to the vibrant picture of the new era of development in the western part of China. Axi Aijia remarked, “The new Cheng-Kun represents ‘speed,’ linking counties across the Daliangshan region, while the old Cheng-Kun embodies ‘warmth,’ connecting villages deep within Daliangshan. Together, they complement each other, fast and slow.”

This touching reflection took place at the book launch for “The Great Cheng-Kun,” held at the 2024 Tianfu Book Fair in the Liangshan sub-exhibit area. Axi Aijia, along with the book’s author Chen Guo and young teacher Luo Haijun, shared unforgettable stories about both the old and new Cheng-Kun railways.

Luo Haijun is one of the beneficiaries of the Cheng-Kun railway. In 2009, he boarded the old Cheng-Kun train to pursue his studies at Xichang University. Since 2014, he has participated in a “Rewalk the Cheng-Kun Line” initiative every summer with his mentor, a distinguished professor at Sichuan Normal University and former railway soldier, Cai Fanglu. He has consistently joined this activity for ten years. With the completion of the Cheng-Kun railway restoration in December 2022, Liangshan officially entered the “high-speed era.” He noted the significant changes that the new and old railways have brought to the region: “With both railways parallel, they will continue to provide endless momentum for local development.”

In writing “The Great Cheng-Kun,” Chen Guo traveled multiple times to the Daliangshan region, seeking out firsthand accounts from places like Xide, Yuexi, Nibo, Hongfeng, and Shamalada. Through these encounters, he gained profound insights into the railway’s impact on the lives of local residents. “Nearly half of the railway’s length runs through Liangshan. It facilitates easier access to external resources while also transporting local products to the nation and the world. The railway has transformed the destinies of many ordinary people, enabling them to pursue broader opportunities,” he explained.

When discussing the motivation behind creating “The Great Cheng-Kun,” Chen Guo admitted that the railway symbolizes a heroic path forged by its builders, who dedicated their youth, passion, and even lives to this monumental project. “The Cheng-Kun railway stands as a lighthouse, guiding people toward new directions. I hope readers not only understand the stories of the railway and its builders through ‘The Great Cheng-Kun’ but also find inspiration and strength for their own lives,” he concluded.