Witness the Construction Achievements of Chongqing Rail Transit in Hongyancun Station

Chongqing – The "20th Anniversary Construction Achievement Exhibition of Chongqing Rail Transit (CRT) " launched today at Hongyancun Station (Lines 5/9 interchange), featuring an eco-friendly "paper space" design, and showcasing the remarkable achievements of CRT and the city's spirit of Chongqing. United Nations officials and consular representatives participated in the unique vertical marathon and attended the opening ceremony, with consuls from Japan and Vietnam sharing their personal reflections on Chongqing's transit legacy.

Chongqing's unique topography and pioneering spirit have unlocked one breakthrough after another in rail transit, exemplified by Hongyancun Station—the deepest subway station in China. Its No. 2 and No. 4 entrances feature a staggering vertical elevation difference of 141 meters, connected by 860 steps. Recently, the 2025 Chongqing Hongyancun Metro Vertical Marathon drew over 2,000 participants. Seizing the moment, the international guests took on this global rarity—dubbed an "engineering marvel"—and experienced firsthand the extraordinary ascent through this subterranean wonder.

"Look, this is XU Chunxia—a 'National March 8th Red-Banner Pacesetter' and 'Model Worker of National Transportation System' - who has spearheaded her team in digitalization and service optimization initiatives. She has delivered over 30 innovative achievements while mentoring more than 50 operational specialists..."

Themed "Tunnel of Time, Pulse of Mountain City," this achievement exhibition vividly showcases the brilliant history, industrial development, scenic views along the lines, and numerous honors of CRT over the past 20 years through extensive photographs, texts, case studies, and installation designs, such as its "top 10 standout achievements," including the world's first monorail-exclusive river-crossing bridge, Yu'ao Jialing River Bridge (Monorail Line 3), the world’s largest single-pylon, single-cable-plane cable-stayed bridge, Qiansimen Jialing River Bridge (Line 6), and the world's longest-span cable-stayed bridge with steel truss girders dual-use for both road and rail, Baijusi Yangtze River Bridge (Line 18). 

All these unique urban landmarks prove that CRT pioneers are always role models practicing the city spirit: resilience, Valiance, Openness, and Pioneering. "From the perspective of Chongqing people's character, it embodies the core of Chongqing's City Spirit", said Takagaki Ryoji, Deputy Consul-General of Japan in Chongqing.

Japanese economic and technical assistance also contributed to the construction of CRT Line 2. Today, the Liziba Station, where the monorail train travels through a residential building, has become a popular spot for both domestic and international tourists. Takagaki told us that he now frequently takes the CRT to travel around the city. "We are truly honored that the Japanese assistance has contributed to the development of Chongqing's monorail system. Although Japan's economic assistance to China may have concluded, Japan and China continue to maintain close bilateral exchanges. Through cultural interactions and people-to-people exchanges, we continue to engage with each other and learn from one another."

Also, Pham Trong Tho, Consul of the Consulate General of Vietnam in Chongqing, expressed great delight in participating in the event and witnessing the historic achievements of CRT. Upon learning that the day marked the anniversary of Chongqing's designation as a municipality directly under the Chinese government, he extended birthday wishes to the city.

"With great power comes great responsibility." The first urban rail transit line in Vietnam's capital, Hanoi, utilizes Chongqing's advanced monorail technology. Pham Trong Tho emphasized that this stands as a vivid testament to the friendship between Vietnam and China. "We also hope that in the future, Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, could work more closely with Chongqing in deeper and broader ways."

Additionally, the exhibition features an innovative "paper space" created using eco-friendly D-BOARD paper panels, which integrate the traditional Chinese architectural "dougong bracket" structure with a Lego-inspired modular system. Spanning nearly 100 meters, the exhibition area has attracted many passengers to take photos.