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I imagine taking a steam train in early spring in March, freely traveling through rapeseed fields filled with blossoms, and pursuing a dream deep in my memory through the tunnel of time.
March is full of vitality. This is the best time to enjoy rapeseed flowers. In addition to the well-known Luoping and Wuyuan, you can also enjoy such a sea of flowers in Leshan, Sichuan. More importantly, there are steam trains clanging past you.
In such a place, you can take a steam train with someone as gentle as the spring breeze and dream about a fairy tale.
Jiayangcheck the details
Jiayang is a geographical term that, in ancient times, referred to Jiazhou, now Leshan City. Today, the term no longer refers specifically to Leshan, but rather to the area south of Jiazhou and Jiading Prefecture, encompassing Jianwei County during the Ming and Qing dynasties and the Republic of China, and present-day Jianwei County and Wutongqiao District.
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The Jiayang Locomotive, established in 1958, is the only narrow-gauge steam locomotive still in operation in China, and perhaps even the world. As China's narrow-gauge railways gradually disappear, this train remains a unique reminder of its existence: Every day, it hums back and forth along a mere 20 kilometers of track, powered by steam, operated by a coal-dust-covered stoker, and operated entirely manually. It has been hailed as a "living fossil of the Industrial Revolution."
Some people say that in Chengdu, we have the national treasure, the giant panda; and in Qianwei, this steam train can be said to be more precious than Panda.
The Jiayang train runs from Yuejin Station to Huangcunjing Station, covering a distance of less than 20 kilometers. There are two types of trains: one for local farmers and one for sightseeing tourists.
The sightseeing trains we usually see are the ones we see. During March, during the blooming season, local trains only run at 7:00 AM and 5:00 PM. These two trips are difficult to catch unless you're staying in the area. The sightseeing trains are designed specifically for tourists, and the round trip takes about 2.5 hours. There are two train shows (be sure to snap away with your camera), and the train runs non-stop from Bagou Station back to Yuejin Station.
In the square of the ticket office, there is a small red train carriage, which is suitable for tourists to take photos.
Tips:
The Jiayang train costs 80 yuan per person for a one-way trip and 160 yuan per person for a round trip. The Huangcun Mine Exploration Tour costs 80 yuan per person.
There are 4 flights per day, with departure times at 10:00, 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00; and return times at 11:30, 12:30, 14:30 and 16:30.
It is best to buy tickets a few days in advance, as it is difficult to buy tickets on site during the peak season!
Yuejin Station is the starting point of the Jiayang train. Jiayang people usually call this place "Sanjing" because the third mine in Jiayang, Tianjingjing, is located here.
Tourists basically board the train here. You can see the green train parked by the station, waiting for tourists to board. It is recommended to come here in advance to pose. This is a good place to take a group of retro portraits.
Famous attractions in the Mitsui area:
The main monument square of Jiayang National Mining Park, the Soviet-style train visitor center, the Huangjushu Park, etc.
Along the way, a tour guide will explain the history and origins of the Jiayang train. I've heard that the train's turning method is quite unique. It utilizes the "human" railway design invented by Zhan Tianyou, achieving turns by turning from the rear to the front of the train.
At first I thought it was going in the opposite direction, but it was actually continuing along another track to the next station. It was a rare experience.
ps: When changing from the rear of the car to the front, it is best to sit properly, as there may be minor collisions between carriages.
It is said that this is a train to spring. A steam train slowly comes out from among the rape flowers, spewing white smoke, and the sound of the train whistle comes into the ears, giving people the feeling of entering a fairy tale world.
Maybe you have seen the promotional photos on the Internet. This is the most classic shooting location. Of course, it has also become a paradise for many photography enthusiasts.
Along the way, the tour guide will also recommend Jiayang train souvenirs to tourists. If you are interested in buying one, you can take it back as a souvenir.
P.S. Souvenirs include postcards, notepads, nail clippers, keychains, etc. The prices range from a dozen yuan to several dozen yuan.
The "Eagle's Beak" tunnel is the first tunnel we pass through on the way. It is nearly 50 meters long and is said to be the shortest of the six tunnels on the Bashi Railway. When the train rushes out of the tunnel, a tall white smoke is emitted.
The little train goes through mountains and hills, just like traveling through a time tunnel, giving you the illusion of falling into time and space.
ps: Since the Bashi Railway is a one-way railway, the stop time is limited and the train will not stop here.
As the name suggests, it gets its name from the rapeseed blossoms that blanket the ground in bloom with the arrival of spring. The "C-shaped" curve here is the steepest on the entire train track. Sitting by the window, you can gaze out at the blossoms in full bloom. The gentle breeze brings a touch of floral fragrance, refreshing the air.
P.S.: It is said that during the flowering season, the train will stop for a few minutes at the scenic spot near this station for tourists to visit. It generally does not stop here at other times.
This is the only station on the train line where you can take photos of the train combined with the mountains and water.
Photos can't give you a three-dimensional sense of the train rumbling by, so it's better to watch a video:
If the weather is good, you can also see the steam rainbow created by the train. The steam is sprayed into water droplets, and people standing on the observation platform form a certain angle with the sunlight, so people can see the artificial steam rainbow.
Trains, steam, mountains and rivers, rainbows, these industrial elements collide with natural elements to form a beautiful landscape painting.
Huangcun Well is the terminus of the train and an extension of the No. 1 mine of Jiayang Coal Mine. The well is approximately 46 meters deep. If you want to experience the secrets of the mine, there will be a dedicated tour guide to lead the way.
The process is roughly as follows: visit the tunnels, wax figures, broken coal seams, air gates, drainage facilities, experience mining coal using monkey carts and hand pickaxes, then exit the shaft, pass through the Alsophila tree trail, and return to the Huangcunjing Visitor Center.
Since no one in our carriage chose to experience it at that time, the train first went to Huangjing Village Station and then returned to the previous station - Bagou Station.
The second to last stop on the train is Bagou Station. I think this is the place that is most worth stopping and strolling around.
You can get close to the little train, and the train's whistle echoes in your ears from time to time, as if you can't bear to let it leave.
After getting off the train, it stopped at the station for a few minutes and then headed towards Cave Entrance No. 1.
Next to the train station, down the stairs is the Bajiaogou Industrial Ancient Town, which has a history of over 80 years. It is an old place full of age, exuding a primitive and ancient atmosphere.
The crisscrossing bluestone roads, gurgling streams and unique Chinese, British and Soviet-style houses left here symbolize the stamp of time and bear witness to the loyalty and perseverance of generations of local people.
Strolling through the streets of a small town, you will see an elderly man leaning on a cane, stumbling forward bit by bit, looking back and stopping every step.
Here, you will often see small red lanterns hanging on both sides of the street. They are lined up in rows and integrated with the ancient town buildings, giving people the illusion of returning to the past.
You'll also see the words "Mao Zedong Thought" graffitied on the walls, making them quite eye-catching. In Dongfanghong Square, there are many Red Army uniforms available for rent. If you'd like to be a "Red Army soldier," come and experience it. I think this ancient town is so unique compared to other ancient towns. The War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the First Industrial Revolution, and the Cultural Revolution all left deep marks here.
For foodies, when it comes to food, they don’t skimp on it. Here, I strongly recommend a restaurant called "Miner Canteen", which is also one of the must-visit restaurants in the ancient town.
There is no menu here, and you need to look at the blackboard at the door to order. The red banner at the door attracted my attention. The standard Sichuan dialect saying "If you don't work hard, you will eat the shovel" is very interesting.
Every dish here tastes good. The highlight is the banana white meat in the first picture above. The sesame and chili sauce on it is so delicious that it feels like a rare dish in other restaurants.
We also ordered three other dishes, stir-fried pork with bamboo shoots, steamed beef with rice flour and tofu pudding. The steamed beef with rice flour was very solid, and the tofu pudding was very original, with a hint of coal ash when eaten.
Even when paying the bill, I felt the rich local culture. The waiter's bag was emblazoned with a portrait of Mao Zedong and the slogan "Serve the People." After dinner, I bought some Yeerba (yellow cakes) on the street, which were incredibly delicious.
The Jiayang National Mining Museum was renovated from an old Soviet-style office building. The fading five-pointed star and the inscription "Serve the People Wholeheartedly" evoke a sense of age.
The museum is not very large, and its exhibits are mainly in the form of pictures, texts, and physical objects. It is said that the museum has a collection of more than 600 exquisite exhibits, which are neatly displayed in display cases, allowing people to experience the local history and culture up close.
Stepping inside, you can gain a deeper understanding of mining history, mining culture, industrial civilization, and the hardships of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. Perhaps, we are accustomed to seeing these dilapidated artifacts from the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression in TV dramas, but when you come and experience them in person, you will feel a certain sense of emotion and touch.
The scenes of family life in the 1970s and 1980s are also restored here, with old TVs, phonographs, sewing machines, desks, clocks, organs, etc., and I want to capture them all with my camera.
I imagine taking a steam train on a sunny March day to encounter a sea of rapeseed flowers, then traveling through a time tunnel, falling into such an old-fashioned town, and pursuing a dream of time and space.
Because there are memories of spring, I would like to take this opportunity to meet you again.
