Jingbao railway
Encyclopedia
The Beijing-Baotou Railway or Jingbao Railway is a 833 km railway from Beijing
to Baotou
, Inner Mongolia
in China
. It is a very important route in northwestern China
.
The first section of this railway, the Imperial Peking–Kalgan Railway (now the "Jingzhang" Railway) was constructed between 1905 and 1909, connecting Beijing with Zhangjiakou
(Kalgan). This section was the first railway designed and built by Chinese. The chief engineer is Jeme Tien Yow. He overcame the steep gradient near Badaling
using a switchback
. Due to his achievement in constructing this railway, Zhan (Jeme) is called the father of China's railways.
The railway was extended from Zhangjiakou
to Hohhot
by 1921 and to Baotou by 1923.
Even with the switchback, the gradient near Qinglongqiao railway station is still at 3.3%. In addition, travelling through the switchback is slow. A bypass route, Fengsha Railway, was built in the 1950s between Fengtai and Shacheng
along the Yongding river
. This route was dropped by Zhan due to high construction cost. Before the 1990s, the Fengsha railway was mainly used to transport cargos, and the original Jingzhang railway was focused on the passenger transportation.Now,most of the trains coming from Baotou have changed to use Fengsha railway instead. The Qinglongqiao railway station, where the switchback is located, is the station serving the Great Wall near Badaling.
Both Jingbao railway and Fengsha railway are double track
railways.
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
to Baotou
Baotou
Baotou is a mid-sized industrial city in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China. Governed as a prefecture-level city, its urban areas are home to a population of approximately 1.78 million, with a total population of over 2.65 million accounting for counties under...
, Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China, located in the northern region of the country. Inner Mongolia shares an international border with the countries of Mongolia and the Russian Federation...
in China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
. It is a very important route in northwestern China
Northwestern China
Northwestern China includes the autonomous regions of Xinjiang and Ningxia and the provinces of Shaanxi, Gansu, and Qinghai.-Administrative divisions:ProvincesAutonomous Regions-Outer Northwest China:...
.
The first section of this railway, the Imperial Peking–Kalgan Railway (now the "Jingzhang" Railway) was constructed between 1905 and 1909, connecting Beijing with Zhangjiakou
Zhangjiakou
Zhangjiakou, also known also by several other names, is a prefecture-level city in northwestern Hebei province of North China, adjacent to Beijing to the southeast. Its administrative area has a population of 4.35 million, and covers...
(Kalgan). This section was the first railway designed and built by Chinese. The chief engineer is Jeme Tien Yow. He overcame the steep gradient near Badaling
Badaling
Badaling is the site of the most visited section of the Great Wall of China, approximately northwest of urban Beijing city in Yanqing County, which is within the Beijing municipality. The portion of the wall running through the site was built during the Ming Dynasty, along with a military...
using a switchback
Zig Zag (railway)
A railway zig zag, also called a switchback, is a way of climbing hills in difficult country with a minimal need for tunnels and heavy earthworks. For a short distance , the direction of travel is reversed, before the original direction is resumed.A location on railways constructed e.g...
. Due to his achievement in constructing this railway, Zhan (Jeme) is called the father of China's railways.
The railway was extended from Zhangjiakou
Zhangjiakou
Zhangjiakou, also known also by several other names, is a prefecture-level city in northwestern Hebei province of North China, adjacent to Beijing to the southeast. Its administrative area has a population of 4.35 million, and covers...
to Hohhot
Hohhot
Hohhot , is a city in north-central China and the capital of the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region, serving as the region's administrative, economic, and cultural centre....
by 1921 and to Baotou by 1923.
Even with the switchback, the gradient near Qinglongqiao railway station is still at 3.3%. In addition, travelling through the switchback is slow. A bypass route, Fengsha Railway, was built in the 1950s between Fengtai and Shacheng
Shacheng
Shacheng is a town located in Huailai County, in the northwest of Hebei province in Northern China. It is located southeast of Zhangjiakou and more than from the urban area of Beijing. It is known particularly for its production of Chinese grape wine. The China Great Wall Wine Company, Ltd...
along the Yongding river
Hai River
The Hai River , previously called Bai He , is a river in the People's Republic of China which flows through Beijing and Tianjin before emptying into the Yellow Sea at the Bohai Gulf.The Hai River at Tianjin is formed by the confluence of five rivers, the Southern Canal, Ziya...
. This route was dropped by Zhan due to high construction cost. Before the 1990s, the Fengsha railway was mainly used to transport cargos, and the original Jingzhang railway was focused on the passenger transportation.Now,most of the trains coming from Baotou have changed to use Fengsha railway instead. The Qinglongqiao railway station, where the switchback is located, is the station serving the Great Wall near Badaling.
Both Jingbao railway and Fengsha railway are double track
Double track
A double track railway usually involves running one track in each direction, compared to a single track railway where trains in both directions share the same track.- Overview :...
railways.
Stations and mileage
| Major Station | Mileage (km) |
| Beijing Beijing railway station Beijing Railway Station is one of Beijing's railway stations, opened in the 1950s, as can be seen from its architecture . It is located in the city's central location, just next to Jianguomen, and is within the confines of the city's 2nd Ring Road... (北京) | 0 |
| Shacheng Shacheng Railway Station Shacheng Railway Station is a railway station of Jingbao Railway, Fengsha Railway and Jingzhang Intercity Railway. The station located Zhangjiakou, Hebei, China.-References:... (沙城) | 121 |
| Xuanhua Xuanhua Railway Station Xuanhua Railway Station is a railway station of Jingbao Railway, Xuanpang Railway and Xuanyan Railway. The station located Zhangjiakou, Hebei, China.-History:Xuanhuafu Station opened in 1909. Xuanhuafu Station was renamed Xuanhua Station in 1914.... (宣化) | 171 |
| Zhangjiakou South Zhangjiakou South Railway Station The Zhangjiakou South Railway Station is a railway station of Jingbao Railway, Zhangji Railway and Jingzhang Intercity Railway that located in Zhangjiakou, Hebei, China.-See also:*List of stations on Jingbao railway-References:... (张家口南) | 196 |
| Datong Datong Railway Station The Datong Railway Station is a railway station of Jingbao Railway, Tongpu Railway and Daqin Railway. The station located in Datong, Shanxi, China.-External links:*... (大同) | 374 |
| Jining south Jining South Railway Station Jining South Railway Station is a railway station of Jingbao Railway, Jier Railway and Jitong railway. The station located Jining, Ulanqab, Inner Mongolia, China.... (集宁南) | 501 |
| Hohhot Hohhot Railway Station Hohhot Railway Station is a railway station of Jingbao Railway. The station located in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China.-See also:*List of stations on Jingbao railway*Hohhot Metro-References:... (呼和浩特) | 659 |
| Baotou Baotou Railway Station Baotou Railway Station is a railway station of Jingbao Railway, Baolan Railway, Baobai Railway and Baoshen Railway. The station located Baotou, Inner Mongolia, China.-References:... (包头) | 824 |