Zhan Tianyou: The Railway Genius Behind China’s Iconic V-Switchback!

Imagine building a railway through mountains so steep even goats hesitate . That’s the challenge Zhan Tianyou, hailed as the 'Father of China’s Railways', tackled head-on in the early 20th century. His masterpiece? The Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway—China’s first fully self-designed and built rail line.

But the real showstopper? The V-shaped switchback, a clever zigzag design that let trains climb daunting slopes near the Great Wall’s Badaling section. Think of it like a mountain trail for trains: go forward, reverse, repeat! Combined with his 'shaft construction method' for tunnels, Zhan’s brainpower turned 'impossible' into 'legendary.'

Fun fact: This wasn’t just engineering—it was national pride. At a time when foreign experts doubted China’s capabilities, Zhan proved innovation needs no passport. His legacy? Inspiring generations of engineers to 'keep track' of progress (see what we did there? ).

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The V-shaped switchback, an ingenious design by Zhan Tianyou

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