Beijing–Hankou railway
The Beijing–Hankou or Jinghan railway (
From 1928 to 1945, when Beijing was known as
History
In 1896, the Imperial Chinese Railway Administration was established to oversee railway construction in China.
Starting in March 1899, the work progressed from both ends. By the end of 1899 the embankments had been completed along a 100 kilometres (62 mi) stretch and 20 kilometres (12 mi) of track had been laid down in the south. In the north there were 60 kilometres (37 mi) of embankments and 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) of track. The Boxer Rebellion halted construction for several months in 1900. All the railway officials were given arms to protect themselves. In the northern stretch from
In 1901 the line was extended through the section between Xinyang and Hankou in the hilly land between the Yellow and Yangtze rivers. Only one 500 metres (1,600 ft) tunnel was needed. In January 1902 the Imperial Court travelled along a completed section of the line on their way back to Beijing. In June 1905 the 3,000 metres (9,800 ft) bridge over the Yellow River was open to traffic.[3] The 1,214 kilometres (754 mi) line with 125 stations was opened on 14 November 1905. It was recognized as a major (and profitable) achievement, and the responsible engineer Jean Jadot gained great credit.[2]
The Beijing–Hankou railway was completed in 1906. In the meantime, the Belgians had purchased a controlling stake in the American company that held the concession for the
In 1907, Liang Shiyi proposed the formation of a Bank of Communications to redeem the Beijing–Hankou railway from its Belgian owners.[4] The Bank of Communications was formed in 1908 and provided more than half of the financing needed to buy the railway, the remaining coming from the Imperial Bank of China and the Ministry of Finance.[1]: 223 The railway was placed under Chinese control on January 1, 1909, and the successful redemption enhanced the prestige of Liang's Communications Clique.
Railway workers' strike
The Beijing–Hankou railway workers' strike of 1923, also known as the February 7th strike, was an important event involving this railway.[5] By the end of 1922, 16 workers' unions had been established on the Jing-Han Railway. A ceremony to establish the Federation of Workers' Unions of the Beijing–Hankou Railway was held on February 1, 1923. However, warlord Wu Peifu sent his military police to sabotage the meeting. The Federation protested, and decided on a major strike on February 4, 1923, and relocated its office to Jiang'an, in the city of Hankou. The strike took place on February 7. Wu Peifu sent his troops to besiege the Workers' Union of Jiang'an. The chief of the Jiang'an Workers' Union (Lin Xiangqian) was arrested, and subsequently executed. Workers' movements in Changxindian, Zhengzhou, Baoding, and Gaobeidian were also put down. Union members wore badges at the strike – these were inscribed 江岸京漢鐵路工會會員證勞工神聖 (Member's badge of the Jiang'an Jing-Han Railway Union. Labour is sacred).[6]
References
- ^ a b c d e Lee, En-han (1977). China's Quest for Railway Autonomy, 1904-1911: A Study of the Chinese Railway-Rights Recovery Movement. Singapore University Press.
- ^ a b History of a bank: building the Beijing - Hankou railway on the eve of the 20th century, BNP Paribas, 8 April 2013, retrieved 2021-04-02
- ^ location of the old bridge of which the piers remain today
- ISBN 9781135167585.
In 1907 Liang Shih-i proposed the establishment of a Bank of Communications which would handle domestic and foreign funds for the redemption of the Peking–Hankow railway.
- ^ Beijing–Hankou Railway Workers' Strike 1923
- ^ The badge is known in Chinese as 江岸京汉铁路工会会员证; they are rare, only about 10 specimens are known, including one in the China Revolutionary Army Museum. Reproductions were made by the Changxindian Memorial Museum in 1953.
Weblinks
See also
- Rail transport in the People's Republic of China
- List of railways in China
- Beiping–Hankou Railway Operation (battle along railway line)