[Explanation] With the long sound of the whistle, an old steam locomotive slowly drove out of the virgin forest with a strong atmosphere of the times. This scene seems to be a scene of "travelling through time and space", which happened in Alihe National Forest Park in Inner Mongolia.
Here, the opening of a forest railway tourist route has brought a new life to the steam locomotive, which bears more than half a century of thick forest history and forest industrial culture.
Recently, the reporter went to the local area and had a "close contact" with this steam locomotive that has "traversed" for more than half a century.
[Explanation] The Daxing'anling Mountains in Inner Mongolia in northeastern China contains rich natural resources. In the 1960s, in order to transport the wood resources in the deep mountains, a forest railway was established in the Daxing'anling forest area of Inner Mongolia.
This forest railway with a total length of 210 kilometers undertakes the task of timber transportation and passenger transportation for 7 forest farms. At that time, 9 steam locomotives went over mountains and mountains and shuttled through the deep forest.
[Explanation] Entering the 21st century, in order to fundamentally curb the deterioration of the ecological environment, protect biodiversity, and promote sustainable social and economic development, China has implemented a natural forest protection project, namely the "Tianbao Project".
With the increased protection of forest resources, the amount of forest harvesting in the Daxing'an Mountains of Inner Mongolia has been greatly reduced, and these steam locomotives have gradually withdrawn from the stage of history.
However, the intact steam locomotives and forest railway lines preserved by the Alihe Forestry Bureau have not been forgotten. In 2011, with the pace of eco-tourism construction, the local area opened up a forest steam locomotive tourism route, allowing tourists to have a relationship with "old antiques" such as steam locomotives. close contact.
[Concurrent] Wen Jun, head of Alihe National Forest Park in Inner Mongolia
It now carries a function of tourism, and it is also a memory for our descendants as a memory of the forest industry.
Let future generations recall the train in those days, and how much it played a role in the construction of the motherland.
It also allows everyone to have a deeper understanding of the forest industry culture and the hardship of (wood) production in that year.
What about this (steam) train of 28 tons, the distance between its tracks is 762 mm.
In my country, it is the only steam narrow-gauge train running in the virgin forest.
[Explanation] The reporter boarded this small train and experienced the "travelling journey" in the virgin forest.
Four stations have been set up along this forest railway line, creating tourist attractions such as production memory experience areas and sightseeing scenic spots with forest industry culture, so that tourists can learn about forest industry wood production culture.
In different seasons, this route will also show different beauty for tourists.
Flower viewing in spring and summer, forest viewing in autumn, and snow viewing in winter. Tourists take pictures and listen to the conductor's explanation of the history, stories and logging production history of steam locomotives; step into the virgin forest, view forest plants, understand their names and uses, and truly "get close to them." Nature".
[Explanation] During the visit, the reporter found that this steam locomotive that was "re-employed" has now become a "new business card" for local tourism, and this Mori Railway line has also become a must-see "Internet celebrity check-in place" for tourists.
The increase in the number of tourists not only enhances the local tourism economy, but also allows more people to have a better understanding of the unique forest industry culture.
[Concurrent] Wen Jun, head of Alihe National Forest Park in Inner Mongolia
The number of tourists is increasing year by year. At the same time, tourists also recognize the memory of our forest industry culture very, very much. In the future, we must uphold the concept of green development, and let this (steam) small train pass on to all future generations. Remember an iconic product of this era.
Reporter Ma Zhiyuan Zhang Wei reports from Daxinganling, Inner Mongolia
Responsible editor: [Luo Pan]