Located in the Tianquan service area of Yakang Expressway, the Sichuan-Tibet Highway Museum opened on September 16, 2021, receiving more than 3,000 groups of visiting groups or individuals every year. The Sichuan-Tibet Highway Museum covers an area of about 800 square meters, which is divided into four parts: Shu Dao Difficult, Shu Dao Tong, Shu Dao Chang and Shu Dao People, showing the complete process of Sichuan-Tibet Highway construction.
The picture shows the entrance of the Sichuan-Tibet Highway Museum Photo: Zhang Yu
In the preface hall of the museum, a promotional video of the Yakang Expressway is played, and the exhibition boards on both sides display Chairman Mao's important instructions on the construction of the "Two Roads", including the inscription for the start of construction of the Kang-Tibet Highway in August 1952 and the inscription for the opening of the Kang-Tibet and Qinghai-Tibet Highway in December 1954.
The picture shows Chairman Mao's inscription for the start of construction of the Kang-Tibet Highway in August 1952 Photo: Zhang Yu
The "Shu Road Difficulty" part traces the process of the formation of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. About 80 million years ago, the Eurasian plate collided with the Indian plate to form the current roof of the world. Historically, exchanges between various ethnic groups have begun on the Ancient Tea Horse Road in the Sichuan-Tibet region. Now Tianquan, Luding, Kangding and other places are important places for tea and horse markets. The exhibition hall displays old objects related to the Ancient Tea Horse Road, such as stirrups, copper bells, and tea bags, as well as old photos of the Ancient Tea Horse Road. It can be seen that in the old days, the road into Tibet was narrow and rugged, and the life of the porter was very difficult.
The picture shows the relics of the Ancient Tea Horse Road, a medium-sized thick material chisel with a black pattern copper bell Photo: Zhang Yu
The second part, "Shu Daotong", shows in detail the construction process of the Sichuan-Tibet Highway and the heroic deeds of the Red Army in Ya'an. These include survey maps drawn by soldiers of the 18th Army who trekked more than 10,000 kilometers and climbed over two to three hundred 3,000 to 4,000-meter high mountains, as well as old photographs of the military and civilians working together to overcome difficulties such as harsh environments and backward equipment. On December 25, 1954, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau ushered in the opening of the two highways of Kang-Tibet and Sichuan-Tibet, and more than 30,000 people gathered in the square in front of the Potala Palace.
The picture shows an old photo of the cheering scene after the construction of the Bahe bridge on the Sichuan-Tibet Highway Remake: Zhang Yu
The third part, "Shu Daochang", shows the reconstruction and upgrading of the Sichuan-Tibet Highway, especially the technological breakthroughs of super projects such as the Erlangshan Tunnel and the Yakang Expressway. With a total length of about 13.5 kilometers and 13 seismic fault zones, the Erlangshan Tunnel is located in the 8-degree seismic intensity zone, including gas, rockbursts, meltwater and other undesirable geology, and is known as the Geological Disaster Museum in Southwest China. Building roads in such a complex environment can't help but make people sigh at the greatness of China's road builders. In the past, it took 2 to 3 days to complete the Erlang Mountain Road, but now the Erlang Mountain Tunnel through the Sichuan-Tibet Highway takes only 15 minutes, and it avoids the ice layer and is open to traffic all year round.
In the process of building the Yakang Expressway, it has overcome extremely complex terrain, geology, climate and ecological conditions, and is known as the "Everest" of highway construction. For example, because the vertical drop between the Dagangshan Tunnel and National Highway 318 is close to 600 meters, a 9-kilometer construction road should be built next to the tunnel. After the construction of the sidewalk was successful, the sidewalk overlooked from a high place with 24 twists and turns, and it was also known as the 24 turns of the Yakang Expressway. In the process of continuous construction, renovation and maintenance of the Sichuan-Tibet Highway, generation after generation of road builders have enriched and developed the spirit of "two roads".
The picture shows an old photo of the entrance of the Erlang Mountain Tunnel Remake: Zhang Yu
Finally, the exhibition entered the "Shu Dao People" section, showing the members of the Sichuan Writers Association and some retired cadres who deeply felt the difficulty of the construction of the Sichuan-Tibet Highway after experiencing the Yakang Expressway, and felt the Mobao created by feeling, also known as the "Moxiang Shu Road".
The picture shows the sculpture of "Celebrating the Opening of the Kang-Tibet and Qinghai-Tibet Highway" in the exhibition hall Photo: Zhang Yu
From the beginning of 1950 to the end of 1954, the Sichuan-Tibet Highway, with a total length of about 2,400 kilometers, was completed with the joint efforts of 110,000 soldiers and civilians, opening up the traffic lifeline from Sichuan to Tibet, becoming a golden bridge connecting national unity, and creating a miracle in the history of world highways. The lives of 110,000 soldiers and civilians have forged the "two-way" spirit of "one is not afraid of hardship, the other is not afraid of death, tenacious struggle, willing to be a roadstone, the military and the people are one family, and the nation is united". In 2014, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the completion and opening of the "Two Roads", General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed the need to continue to carry forward this spirit, "maintain the two roads, ensure smooth traffic, and make the Sichuan-Tibet and Qinghai-Tibet highways always become the road of ethnic unity, the road of Tibetan civilization and progress, and the road of common prosperity for compatriots of all ethnic groups in Tibet." The Sichuan-Tibet Highway Museum vividly presents this historical picture scroll in front of the audience, arousing the audience's deep thinking and respect for the construction of the Sichuan-Tibet Highway.
Source: China Tibet Network