Chongqing - In Chongqing, a mountainous metropolis, the stone steps carved into the hillsides are more than just pathways – they are the very foundation of daily life.

Known locally as "Tikan," these stairways have long connected the city's riverfront streets and alleys. For generations, porters and merchants traversed these worn stone surfaces, their footsteps etching the hustle and bustle of old Chongqing into the polished rock. The Tikan were the city's lifelines, bridging the vertical gaps of a landscape where every destination required a climb.

Today, automobiles, cable cars and rail transit systems have reshaped urban mobility. While the old Tikan no longer serve as primary transportation arteries, they have found new purpose through urban renewal. These historic stairways have been transformed into cultural and tourism landmarks, preserving the city's collective memory for a new generation.

This short film weaves past and present into a seamless narrative. The stone slabs beneath one's feet tell the story of a city built on perseverance; the high-speed rail tracks and spaceflight trajectories represent the "Tikan" of a new era. From ancient stone steps to modern infrastructure, the Chinese people have always moved forward – one step at a time.

The Tikan tells a story of urban transformation, but it also speaks to something deeper: the enduring, upward-striving spirit that drives a nation's pursuit of modernization.

(This article is provided by Dong Xin, a student at Chongqing University of Technology.)