Huang Peizhao, a special correspondent of this newspaper to Zambia.
The Tanzania-Zambia Railway is one of China's largest foreign aid projects to date. The railway runs from Dar es Salaam, the capital of Tanzania, in the east to New Kapirimboshi in Zambia** province in the west, with a total length of 18605 km, of which in Zambia is about 884 long5 km. A few days ago, a reporter from the "Global Times" went to Zambia for an interview and personally felt the impetus that this East African artery has brought to Zambia's tourism industry.
Before the start of the train, the Global Times reporter interviewed Sidni, the director of operations of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway, who told the reporter that from the sixties and seventies of the last century to today, the increasingly modern Tanzania-Zambia Railway has played a pivotal role in helping Zambia's freight and logistics. In recent years, with the increasing prosperity of tourism, the Tanzania-Zambia Railway has also strongly promoted the development of tourism in Zambia and Tanzania, and a considerable number of millions of passengers every year are tourists from Western countries.
After the third whistle, the reporter hurriedly ended the interview, hurriedly boarded the train next to him, and with a long whistle of "woo", a journey officially began.
Opposite the reporter sat a middle-aged man, who greeted the reporter warmly: "My name is Emile, I went to visit my mother, this is my son, he misses his grandmother, we will travel back to our hometown together." ”
Emille said that he bought the ticket from the new Kapirimboshi station, the starting point of the Tanzania-Zambian railway, and the tickets for the two people combined cost only 250 kwacha (about 80 yuan). "It's simply too cheap, and if we take a bus or other means of transport, it may cost **hundred, or even kilograms. And the road traffic is very poor, not as punctual as the train. This is great for visiting family and friends, as well as for leisure travel! ”
Zambia has abundant tourism resources, the famous Victoria Falls is located on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, attracting a large number of overseas tourists every year. At the time of entering the station, Michael from Australia told reporters that after visiting Victoria Falls, he and his girlfriend Emily also planned to take a train all the way to Tanzania for an "in-depth train tour".
Looking out of the train window, on the vast African continent, with tranquil lakes and lush forests, Michael and Emily were so excited that they took out their cameras to capture the scenery and unforgettable moments. "This journey will be an unforgettable experience for us and will bring us a deeper understanding and love for the African continent. Michael told reporters that the journey of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway not only allowed them to enjoy the unique natural scenery and cultural charm of Africa, but also experienced the fun of cross-border train travel.
The Zambia Daily Mail recently said that the Tanzania-Zambia Railway provides tourists with a convenient mode of transportation, making it easier for tourists to visit the attractions between the two countries, significantly improving the convenience and attractiveness of tourism. At the same time, the tourism resources of the areas along the Tanzania-Zambia railway have been developed, attracting more tourists, forming a virtuous circle and promoting the development of tourism. The Tanzania-Zambia Railway brings more opportunities and potential to the tourism industry in Zambia and Tanzania.
During the visit, the Global Times reporter also visited the "Tanzania-Zambia Railway Memorial Park", which is more than 20 kilometers northeast of Lusaka, the capital of Zambia. Since its official opening in August 2022, it has become a famous tourist attraction. Local ** reported that the "Tanzan Railway Memorial Park" was built in the Chongwei district of Lusaka and covers an area of two hectares. "It's a new tourist attraction and a textbook for the younger generation in Zambia to learn about that period of history. It is free and open to all, making it a new landmark for tourism. ”
Gu Yongwu, deputy general manager of China Civil Engineering (Zambia), said in an interview with the Global Times: "As a major transportation artery between Zambia and Tanzania, the Tanzania-Zambia Railway is an authentic road of friendship and development, and an immortal monument in the history of China-Africa friendly relations. The company was born from the Tanzan Railway, and the 'Tanzan Railway Spirit' is deeply engraved in the company's culture. ”▲
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