In the depths of the Hengduan Mountains, there is a mysterious passage known as the "entrance to hell" - the Dazhu Mountain Tunnel. The construction of this tunnel, which took 12 years, is a magnificent project of China's infrastructure. Its uniqueness lies not only in its majestic scale, but also in its depiction of what Western experts call the "entrance to hell", which vividly presents the hardships of construction.
The birth of this tunnel stems from the mainland's deep understanding of the strategic position of the Strait of Malacca. As the maritime lifeblood of the mainland, the smooth passage of the Strait of Malacca is crucial to the mainland's energy security. To ease the pressure on the strait, the mainland has launched the China-Myanmar railway project, and the Dazhushan tunnel is one of the difficulties in this ambitious plan.
However, the construction of the Dazhushan Tunnel was not all smooth sailing. The tunnel is located in the Hengduan Mountains and has to cross six fault zones, and the construction team had to exert all their strength in the face of this huge geological challenge. When construction began in 2008, it was expected to be completed in five years, but the difficulty was far greater than expected, and the entire project took 12 years. More than 500 experts went to the front line, facing the glorious title of "the most difficult railway tunnel" to climb the peak of science and technology.
As construction progressed, the problem of water inrush became a nightmare for construction workers. There was a water curtain hole in the entire tunnel, and the construction team had to move forward in the gushing water. In the past seven years, a staggering amount of water equivalent to the capacity of 10 West Lakes has gushed out, and the frequent failure of the pumping pump has become a challenge that cannot be ignored in the project.
High temperatures are another challenge. The temperature in the tunnel can reach 42°C, the machine is prone to rust, and the working environment of the workers is extremely harsh. Workers had to rest for 15 minutes every 20 minutes, and frequent vomiting and fainting became commonplace. Workers working at the bottom of the heat are not only under tremendous physical pressure, but also need to overcome psychological distress.
It is worth mentioning that there are party members and leading cadres in the construction team, who take the lead in charging forward and practicing their beliefs with practical actions. Online, these warriors may have been questioned for their slow progress and poor work, but they chose to remain silent. Engineers usually do more and talk less, they are not good at justification, and they are more willing to prove their ability with practical actions.
On April 28, 2020, the Dazhushan Tunnel was fully completed, and it only takes 7 minutes to cross the entire tunnel after it is opened, shortening the travel time from Dali to Ruili to 3 hours, making it more convenient for local people to travel. This line will be connected with the future Myanmar Railway, which will greatly enhance the level of Yunnan's opening up to the outside world and promote exchanges and cooperation between the mainland and Southeast Asian countries.
The completion of the Dazhushan Tunnel is not only another brilliant masterpiece of China's infrastructure, but also a concentrated embodiment of the wisdom and courage of Chinese engineers. This is an indomitable tenacity, a magnificent journey to overcome difficulties. In this land, the Chinese have created miracles with practical actions, showing the strength of unity and cooperation to overcome difficulties together. With the opening of the Dazhushan Tunnel, China's infrastructure will continue to write a new glorious chapter in the future.