China Tibet Railway

A lazy Sunday morning... I witness the completion of the world's highest railway, The Qinghai-Xizhang railway also known as "The Railway Across the Roof of the World".

My my my... Breath-taking. The chinese documentary on Channel U was showing the entire construction and medical challenges that the Chinese government faced during the construction of the 2nd portion. The Chinese government amazing achieved 0 death due to high alttitude-related illnesses. There were of course casualities due to accidents and the 1st passenger to die on the train was a 75 year old Hong Konger.

The development in all aspect of the entire project period was astonishing. Everything was a challenge, from food, oxygen supplies, medical supplies, equipment, machineries, environment preservation, human resource...

The first 814km of the section were build by prisoners earlier and the chinese army (of which an average of 3 deaths/km). It was completed in the 1984.
The second portion of 1142km only started in 2001. It was completed in 2005, and opened in 2006, 1 year ahead of schedule.

More reads:

Guardian News UK

Wikipedia Qingzang

In the 19th century, Britain and Europe taught the world how to produce. In the 20th, the US taught us how to consume. If China is to lead the world in the 21st century, it must teach us how to sustain.

The Chinese government is indeed starting on a spree of world-beating engineering projects including the Shenzhou spacecraft, Three Gorges Dam, Oriental Pearl Tower & Beijing's Olympic stadiums.

The 21st century is all for China to rule and sustain.

Now enjoy a short clip of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway:



I want to see the impossibly blue skies, green plateaus, the snowy mountains, experience the thin-air atmosphere, and most importantly, watch a continous story rolling past my window...