Tianzhu connection allows locals to dream big

Zhao Tao has always believed that high-speed rail would bring prosperity.

The deputy director of the Development and Reform Bureau of Tianzhu Tibetan autonomous county in Gansu province, now has proof that he was correct after witnessing the opening of a high-speed rail service in his hometown.

The Lanzhou-Zhangye High-Speed Railway's Lanzhou-Wuwei section began operations on June 29. It connects Wuwei to the national high-speed rail network, further improving rail transportation in Northwest China. The travel time between Lanzhou and Wuwei has been reduced from three hours to less than two.

The railway passes through Tianzhu Tibetan autonomous county, a small county with a population of 230,000 located between Wuwei and Lanzhou. The county is taking every step it can to adapt to the changes brought by the high-speed rail.

Long Haishan, 28, a Tibetan of Tianzhu descent, works as a train attendant for China Railway Lanzhou Bureau Group. She expressed her pride in being part of the inaugural run of the route through her hometown.

"Tianzhu boasts the beautiful Sanxia National Forest Park and the ecologically rich Qilian Mountains National Nature Reserve, as well as delicious white yak meat and yak yogurt. I hope more tourists will come to visit and learn about our ethnic characteristics and culture," she said.

Tianzhu is known for its coal, and produces 50 percent of the nation's silicon carbide, which is used in the production of semiconductors, according to the county government. The county is also known for its snowcapped mountains, forests, grasslands, temples, ancient cities, murals and for being the exclusive production area of China's white yak.

Wei Zhonghui, deputy director of the Agricultural Industrialization Service Center of Tianzhu, said that in recent years the county government has developed a rural industrial cluster focused on specialty agricultural products such as white yak, quinoa and mushrooms, with the scale of these industries gradually expanding.

However, due to inconvenient transportation, the products often faced high transportation costs and limited market access, bottlenecks that restricted high-quality and efficient development, he said.

"We've been looking forward to the high-speed rail bringing us traffic and helping us sell our products to more places," said Wei.

The Lanzhou-Wuwei High-Speed Railway has filled the gap in Tianzhu's high-speed railway infrastructure, improved the transportation network and greatly shortened the distance between Tianzhu, Lanzhou and Wuwei in terms of time and space, he said.

Zhao noted that residents in Tianzhu can now reach Wuwei or Lanzhou in less than an hour, bringing tangible benefits to the locals. Currently, there are eight daily trains scheduled at Tianzhu West Station.

Due to the establishment of the national nature reserve, there are restrictions on the county's industrial and agricultural lands. Instead, tourism resources are particularly abundant, which will be the focus of future development, he said.

"Outsiders are often not familiar with our high-quality agricultural products. We are confident that once people come, our products will sell well," he said.

Ma Zhala, 37, a yak breeder in Tianzhu, used to deliver his products to customers in other provinces via mail, incurring high delivery and storage costs. He is planning to open a specialty experience store near the station.

"Our yak jerky is handmade, with a fresh and natural taste. With the opening of the high-speed rail, more people will come and business should be very good," he said.