44 Years Protecting 55 Heroes on the Plateau: He Interprets Patriotism Through Action

During the Qingming Festival, we remember our ancestors and pay tribute to the martyrs. On the "Roof of the World," the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, there is a mountain named "Guanjiao," which means "ladder to heaven" in Tibetan. This area is cold and oxygen-deficient year-round, with an average annual temperature of only minus 0.5 degrees Celsius.

Decades ago, railway soldiers led by Zhang Shenglin and his comrades blasted tunnels at the foot of Guanjiao Mountain to open the vital section of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway from Xining to Golmud. They carried heavy loads on their backs, working day and night, and 55 soldiers forever rest there, turning the "ladder to heaven" into a "smooth road to the sky" with their lives.

This is Tianjun County in Qinghai Province, at an altitude of 3,780 meters. The "throat" of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, the Guanjiao Tunnel, winds through these mountains. In April, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is still bitterly cold. In the Tianjun County Martyrs' Cemetery, gravestones face the direction of the railway line, where the railway soldiers who sacrificed their lives to build the Guanjiao Tunnel rest. Since 1984, Zhang Shenglin, one of the builders of the Guanjiao Tunnel, has come here every year around Qingming to pay his respects, without interruption for 42 years.

Zhang Shenglin, builder of the Guanjiao Tunnel: Comrades, I came here by train, and the trains now run very fast. The motherland has not forgotten you, and people have not forgotten your sacrifices and contributions.

The construction of the Guanjiao Tunnel was fraught with difficulties. Construction began as early as 1958, but due to multiple challenges, including technical and economic issues, it was halted several times. It wasn't until 1975 that the construction project was fully restarted. In that era of limited technology and equipment, tunnel construction relied almost entirely on human labor. The plateau's lack of oxygen, complex geology, and frequent collapses meant that on average, one soldier sacrificed their life for every 80 meters of progress. Ultimately, 55 railway soldiers lost their lives in this mountain. The youngest among them was only 19 years old, and the oldest was just 23.

Zhang Shenglin, builder of the Guanjiao Tunnel: This is Zhao Yongfu, who enlisted in the same year as I did, two years older than me and a bit taller. We made a pact that whoever sacrifices first would take care of the other's grave. I can remember when they enlisted, where they sacrificed, and what they looked like. As railway soldiers, they never returned home by train. What I guard is not just the tunnel; I guard your wishes.

Going back in time 51 years, 19-year-old Zhang Shenglin and thousands of comrades advanced into Guanjiao Mountain, known as the "forbidden zone of life," as railway soldiers. Guanjiao means "ladder to heaven" in Tibetan. Here, winter lasts without summer, and the natural environment is extremely harsh. For trains to enter Tibet, the railway must pass through Guanjiao Mountain. Zhang Shenglin and his team’s task was to carve out a 4.01-kilometer-long tunnel within the mountain.

Zhang Shenglin, builder of the Guanjiao Tunnel: This is where we blocked the leak. When we were excavating the Guanjiao Tunnel, the conditions were extremely harsh, with very few tools—only air guns, pickaxes, and shovels. At that time, the frozen ground was harder than stone; when we struck it, it would leave a white mark, and our hands and legs would be injured. But we persevered with our willpower. The most feared were collapses and water bursts; if a collapse occurred, we might sacrifice right there.

Danger could strike at any moment. A major collapse in 1975 is still fresh in Zhang Shenglin's memory. At that time, he and his comrades were working inside the tunnel when a sudden collapse trapped them deep inside. After 14 hours of rescue efforts, all 127 trapped individuals were finally freed.

Zhang Shenglin, builder of the Guanjiao Tunnel: When we were building Guanjiao Mountain, we could not predict the dangers that would occur. Many of our comrades were injured. You see the nerves in my arm; after my arm was crushed, it was covered in injuries, and my leg was also hurt. For us countless builders, to be honest, this is nothing; our goal at that time was to break through Guanjiao Mountain.

Zhang Shenglin and his comrades overcame unimaginable difficulties and challenges, inch by inch, risking their lives to dig into the mountain. In 1982, the Guanjiao Tunnel was finally opened to traffic. After the opening, most of the builders moved on to other projects, but Zhang Shenglin chose to stay. He took off his military uniform, put on a work uniform, and became a maintenance worker on the Qinghai-Tibet line, guarding the tunnel that his comrades had exchanged their lives for.

Zhang Shenglin, builder of the Guanjiao Tunnel: On the day the tunnel opened, everyone was here holding banners, celebrating with joy. That day, I wanted to stay here; my comrades are here, this tunnel is here, and I don’t want to leave. Trains pass through this tunnel safely, and I want to tell them about the changes in our railway. I believe my comrades can see it.

As a guardian, Zhang Shenglin also witnessed the completion of the new Guanjiao Tunnel. In 2014, the new Guanjiao Tunnel, which took seven years to build, was officially opened. Railway builders used the drilling and blasting method to overcome multiple world engineering challenges, pioneering the construction of ultra-long tunnels in high-altitude areas and creating the world-renowned "Sky Road Miracle."

The opening of the new tunnel reduced the time for trains to cross Guanjiao Mountain from the original 2 hours to 20 minutes. Today, a new generation of railway workers has taken up the baton from their predecessors, innovating railway maintenance methods to ensure the safety and smooth operation of this long plateau tunnel.

Chen Gaoyuan, Deputy Director of the Chahan Nuo Line Workshop, Delingha Engineering Section: The Guanjiao Tunnel is at a high altitude, with harsh climate conditions, making maintenance difficult. We have innovated a set of maintenance methods ourselves, filling the gap in the maintenance of long tunnels in high-altitude areas in China. Over the past ten years, we have maintained a safe production record of over 4,000 days. We will continue to carry forward the spirit of challenging limits and striving for excellence on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, ensuring the safety of our long plateau tunnel.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the full opening of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway. This "steel dragon" has witnessed historical changes and has activated new momentum for development in the snowy plateau. Last year, the cargo transport volume on the Qinghai-Tibet line exceeded 50 million tons, and the passenger transport volume surpassed 7 million, with a continuous stream of tourists taking special trains to enjoy the magnificent scenery of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Unique agricultural and pastoral products from the snowy plateau are also transported across the country via this railway. The once "road to heaven" has long become a "golden bridge" supporting the development of the plateau.

Reporter: Master Zhang, have your wishes at that time been fulfilled?

Zhang Shenglin, builder of the Guanjiao Tunnel: Our wishes have been fulfilled, completely fulfilled. At that time, we did not expect such fast trains, such good railways, and such good tunnels. It has also become more convenient for the people of the plateau to travel. This road is getting longer and wider, and I feel comfortable watching the trains run ahead with my comrades. I will continue to hold my ground until I can no longer move.

In the early morning, Zhang Shenglin stands again at the tunnel entrance, watching the train enter the new Guanjiao Tunnel, and he still stands tall and salutes.

Zhang Shenglin, builder of the Guanjiao Tunnel: I am already 70 years old this year. I have spent my whole life on the Qinghai-Tibet line, and I have never regretted it. I will always guard this railway for my comrades, for the participants and builders, passing on your spirit of dedication from generation to generation.

After 44 years of guarding, he has lived up to his promise. Zhang Shenglin uses the simplest actions to interpret what deep camaraderie is and what patriotism means. It is because of countless contributors and guardians like Zhang Shenglin and his comrades that the road to heaven paved on the snowy plateau today exists, a road of happiness for the children of the snowy region heading towards a better life. On this Qingming Festival, we pay tribute to those martyrs who sacrificed their precious lives for the country's transportation cause and to all the builders!