Chinas answer to future challenges

[TaiShang]

Great threat @AndrewJin ! Can't wait seeing the amazing pictures and the loads of first hand information that comes along. You are definitely one of the members who must be given a Think Tank status, given your contribution.

@AndrewJin 's threads are always so attractive. @Hu Songshan your opinions? why I rarely meet with you on the furum, what's up recently.

Exactly. Some of @AndrewJin 's threads deserve at least to be made sticky. @Hu Songshan .

Keep posting, brother!

 

[AndrewJin]

Great threat @AndrewJin ! Can't wait seeing the amazing pictures and the loads of first hand information that comes along. You are definitely one of the members who must be given a Think Tank status, given your contribution.



Exactly. Some of @AndrewJin 's threads deserve at least to be made sticky. @Hu Songshan .

Keep posting, brother!

I'm flattered!
More will come.
Too many photos, my computer broke down once when photos were transmitted from my phone.

 

[dy1022]

More and more Please!

 

[AndrewJin]

Yaxi Expressway, the road in the heaven
The gap of western China and costal China is huge. GDP of all western provinces combined was only 2 trillion US dollar in 2013. Millions of Chinese in the west migrate to Central China and Eastern China to work, leaving empty counties and cities back in the mountains. I believe one of the solutions is better transportation and shorter distance to developed region. Expressways and high-speed railways will bring millions of travelers and send their products to the outside world.

After taking bullet train from Wuhan to Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, I took a coach to Xichang in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture. The whole journey was on 2865km-long Beijing-Kunming Expressway, it is called Yaxi Expressway from Ya'an City to Xichang. I was long looking forward to this trip, although not so much my style as a railway fan .
Yaxi highway: A 'ladder-like sky road' in China

All photos below were taken me when I sat on the first row.

Chengdu is without doubt the centre of western China. Its long-distance bus terminal is located next to the giant HSR station and well connected by metro 20 minutes to the city centre.
Chengdu East Bus Terminal

security check to waiting room

Bus tickets can be purchased online and printed in the ticket machine.

Suburban Chengdu, before riding on Yaxi expressway

On G5 national expressway
Chengdu-Leshan-Emeishan Intercity HSR? @cirr

 

[AndrewJin]

The construction of Yaxi Expressway is a miracle. This is the hardest section of G5 national expressway from Beijing in the north to Kunming, the southwestern frontier of China.

The longest tunnel of Yaxi expressway is more than 10km, at the altitude of 2500m above sea level, 1600 metres from the summit! It saves at least one hour compared to previous zigzag mountainous highway.
Speed limit within the tunnel is 70km/h.

The total length of bridges and tunnels accounts for 55%

 

[cirr]

Yaxi Expressway, the road in the heaven
The gap of western China and costal China is huge. GDP of all western provinces combined was only 2 trillion US dollar in 2013. Millions of Chinese in the west migrate to Central China and Eastern China to work, leaving empty counties and cities back in the mountains. I believe one of the solutions is better transportation and shorter distance to developed region. Expressways and high-speed railways will bring millions of travelers and send their products to the outside world.

After taking bullet train from Wuhan to Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, I took a coach to Xichang in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Region. The whole journey was on 2865km-long Beijing-Kunming Expressway, it is called Yaxi Expressway from Ya'an City to Xichang. I was long looking forward to this trip, although not so much my style as a railway fan .
Yaxi highway: A 'ladder-like sky road' in China

All photos below were taken me when I sat on the first row.
View attachment 243933

Chengdu is without doubt the centre of western China. Its long-distance bus terminal is located next to the giant HSR station and well connected by metro 20 minutes to the city centre.
Chengdu East Bus Terminal
View attachment 243930

security check to waiting room
View attachment 243935

Bus tickets can be purchased online and printed in the ticket machine.
View attachment 243931

Suburban Chengdu, before riding on Yaxi expressway
View attachment 243932

On G5 national expressway
Chengdu-Leshan-Emeishan Intercity HSR? @cirr
View attachment 243936

Yes

 

[AndrewJin]

The Ganhaizi and Tiezhaizi dual spiral tunnels!!!
@cirr @TaiShang @Echo_419 @ahojunk @powastick et al

What a marvellous design!
kudos to Chinese engineers and workers!

I was really sleepy after viaducts after viaducts, tunnels after tunnels. Thanks to the nice lady from Xichang next to me, she woke me up!

The first viral

 

[TaiShang]

The Ganhaizi and Tiezhaizi dual spiral tunnels!!!
@cirr @TaiShang @Echo_419 @ahojunk @powastick et al

What a marvellous design!
kudos to Chinese engineers and workers!
View attachment 243948

I was really sleepy after viaducts after viaducts, tunnels after tunnels. Thanks to the nice lady from Xichang next to me, she woke me up!
View attachment 243949



The first viral
View attachment 243951 View attachment 243952 View attachment 243954 View attachment 243955 View attachment 243953

Wow! China's engineering! No wonder we progressed so much and so well in our island build-up efforts.

 

[AndrewJin]

The Second viral tunnel

After dual spiral tunnels, it followed by endless tunnels again.

 

[AndrewJin]

Road trip is not my thing. But I have to say, this expressway has totally renewed my previous limited image of Chinese roads.

Near Xichang, the capital of Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture

Entering Xichang

Qionghai Lake, local citizens huge park

A village in the suburb

Elderly community

Wow! China's engineering! No wonder we progressed so much and so well in our island build-up efforts.

Expertise and experiences cannot bought by money.

 

[cirr]

The Ganhaizi and Tiezhaizi dual spiral tunnels!!!
@cirr @TaiShang @Echo_419 @ahojunk @powastick et al

What a marvellous design!
kudos to Chinese engineers and workers!
View attachment 243948

I was really sleepy after viaducts after viaducts, tunnels after tunnels. Thanks to the nice lady from Xichang next to me, she woke me up!
View attachment 243949



The first viral
View attachment 243951 View attachment 243952 View attachment 243954 View attachment 243955 View attachment 243953

Did she give you a nudge or something？

The Second viral tunnel
View attachment 243960 View attachment 243956 View attachment 243957 View attachment 243958

After dual spiral tunnels, it followed by endless tunnels again.
View attachment 243959

Simply marvellous。Gorgeous。

 

[AndrewJin]

Did she give you a nudge or something？



Simply marvellous。Gorgeous。

A nudge and some words.

 

[TaiShang]

Road travel is also nice in that it may allow to pass through urban areas and see more stuff.

But, a long bus ride is often a very tiring experience, I agree.

 

[AndrewJin]

Road travel is also nice in that it may allow to pass through urban areas and see more stuff.

But, a long bus ride is often a very tiring experience, I agree.

They will stop in service zones of expressways every 2 hours, but still, I think a Chengdu-Kunming HSR is in urgent need!
There are restaurants, supermarkets, cafes, etc.
My favourite is fried rice noodle and tea flavoured boiled egg.

 

[TaiShang]

They will stop in service zones of expressways every 2 hours, but still, I think a Chengdu-Kunming HSR is in urgent need!
There are restaurants, supermarkets, cafes, etc.
My favourite is fried rice noodle and tea flavoured boiled egg.
View attachment 243988 View attachment 243990 View attachment 243995

Are service stations located frequently?

I like those places; nice opportunity to stretch a little bit and enjoy some food.