Key southwest China railway plays unique role in handling post- epidemic surge in tourists

The Chengdu- Kunming Railway, an artery of railway traffic linking two provincial capitals and passing by multiple tourist resorts in southwest China, has played its unique sole in handling a first post- COVID- 19 surge in tourists in the Chinese mainland during the eight- day National Day Holiday that started on October 1.

The railway runs over 1,000 kilometers between Chengdu City of Sichuan Province and Kunming City of neighboring Yunnan Province. The construction of the railway started in 1958. Workers have made incredible efforts to open up the route over rugged terrain. It has the country's longest railway tunnel completed in 1966.

"[ The railway was built] at a time when our country was at a relatively low level of mechanization, so it was not easy. But the work was done very well," said a passenger.

Chengdu, the origin stop of the railway line, has lived up to its reputation as the "land of abundance" with booming tourism. Panda, hotpot and cultural relics are all popular pursuits of visitors. The science and technology hub and modern international airport have also accelerated the city's stepping into the league of first tier cities.

Emeishan City, situated in southwestern Sichuan Basin, is a time- honored city named after Mount Emei. The county- level city is now linked by high- speed rail and seeing large groups of visitors during the holiday.

As a well- known holy land of Buddhism, Mount Emei is rich in natural and cultural sceneries. It is home to more than 3,000 wild animal species, many of which are native to China and are under national- level protection. At an elevation of over 3,000 meters, the Golden Summit of Mount Emei is the perfect location to appreciate the breathtaking scenes of sunrise and sea of clouds.

"It's really beautiful, I published a WeChat moment of the scenic spot and received many likes," said a visitor.

There are also special snacks with strong local characteristics to satisfy tourists' appetites around the city.

The Chengdu- Kunming Railway is playing a great role in exploiting energy resources, spurring socioeconomic development and promoting national unity in southwest China over the past decades.