Monday, 24 September 2012

53 hours to experience the Tanzania-Zambia Railway in 60's China.

From the beginning of high school history textbooks, the total will be the Tanzania-Zambia Railway as a symbol of friendship in non. The 1860 kilometer long railway as legend has been lingering in my mind, this is a what kind of railway, why it is Africa people known as the "free rail"? Why it should not be considered as an important milepost friendship to reflect the new China 60 years? With this kind of question, we have a pedestrian visited the Tanzania-Zambia Railway and spent three days and two nights on the train.

The capital of Tanzania, Kulash Ni of Dar Es Salaam train stationThe capital of Tanzania, Kulash Ni of Dar Es Salaam train station

Tanzania's "China train station"

Dar Es Salaam in April is the rainy season, but still the sweltering heat. Heavy traffic transportation and the hot and humid weather, let a person stuffy, we not intoxicated by the beauty here, just want to go back to the four seasons such as spring in Zambia's capital Lusaka as soon as possible.

The Tanzania-Zambia Railway started from here, the starting point is the Kulash Ni of Dar Es Salaam train station. Dar Es Salaam is the capital of Tanzania, is also the largest city in the country and in Tanzania port, the only official Swahili language means "safe harbor". Chinese Ming Dynasty Zheng He's voyages had been near here.

The ticket reads waiting time is twelve thirty, about 10 points we have entered the station waiting hall. See Kulash Ni at the train station, we feel very warm, because it's so full of Chinese characteristics, here is an illusion, as if returned to China.

Kulash Ni train station clean and clear, everything is everything in good order and well arranged. The station is divided into two layers, one layer is mainly used for the purchase and shipment of goods. In the ticket window next to the bulletin board, specify the 53 station to the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Station and a seat, two seat and seat for the specific price. Tickets must be purchased for a week in advance, so the ticket window and no long queues, only the information of some black friends busy.

The two layer is used to waiting, Lane directly, which brings great convenience to carry more baggage of passengers. We arrived, some of the passengers were busy carrying goods luggage. However, the hall spacious clean or beyond our expectation, it is difficult to imagine such a clean train station has been in operation for 35 years. Right in the middle of the wall, hung a by Chinese writing Tanzania-Zambia Railway aerial view, we clearly demonstrate the railway passes through the high mountains and deep valleys, forest and grassland and swamps and lakes. On the opposite surface of the two columns line graph, hung with an old friend of the Chinese people, Tanzania's former president Nyerere and former president of Zambia Kaunda portrait. Tanzania, Zambia, China the three beautiful country, this moment just by an epic railway linked together.

Out of the station building, "railway Tanzania-Zambia 25 anniversary monument" suddenly jumped out. This is a special monument, built in July 19, 2001, its design is the base of a locomotive is placed on a rail, train in the body with the Chinese clearly written "the East is red" and "Sifang locomotive and rolling stock factory in 1973 the people's Republic of China" ". Plain and simple, with thick on the century 70's history.

The station staff have begun to check-in, we quickly ran towards the past. To Africa before always heard the Tanzania-Zambia Railway operation will be very desolate, but our eyes are "transport during the Spring Festival" the lively scene.

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