Colossal Changes in the Transportation Hub

High-speed trains ready to depart from Wuhan武汉动车段高铁和动车“万舰待发”

Road building is the best record of the great changes and rapid development of transportation that China has witnessed in the last century.In 1957,the construction of Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge was completed,linking up China’s north-south land transportation arteries.In 1991,the 70.3-kilometer-long Wuhan-Huangshi Expressway was finished and opened to traffic,marking a historical breakthrough in Hubei’s highway construction.

Today,the total mileages of provincial highways,roads in rural areas,and high-grade waterways have reached 289,000,254,000,and 6,166 kilometers respectively.Roads are connected to every village and villager group,and high-speed rails run throughout the whole province in all directions.Inland rivers and the sea are interconnected by waterway shipment routes which enable thousands of containers to move through the province to the world.Airports have been built in key cities and scenic spots,with direct flights covering all continents.The three-dimensional pattern of land-sea-air transportation in Hubei has been formed,and Hubei transportation is developing into a “crossroads of the nation.”

In this province encompassing thousands of lakes,the routes and navigation courses are now interwoven,roads and avenues are crisscrossed,bridges and tunnels are competing in splendor,and beautiful cities are linked together,combining to form a strong metropolitan vibe.

一条路，演绎着交通的变迁和发展。1957年武汉长江大桥飞架南北，打通了中国南北交通大动脉；1991年，全长70.3 公里的武黄高速建成通车，宣告湖北高速公路实现零的突破。

如今，湖北省公路总里程、农村公路总里程、高等级航道总里程分别达到28.9 万公里、25.4 万公里、6166 公里；马路连通了每一个村组，高铁东西南北全方位贯通全境，航运走进千箱时代，实现江海互通，重点城市和景区都修建了机场，国际航班直通五洲四海，湖北陆海空联运的立体格局已经形成，湖北交通正在发展成为“祖国立交桥”。

千湖之省，航线如织，大道穿梭，桥隧争艳，锦城相连，现代气息浓郁。

An attendant chatting with passengers happily in the VIP waiting room.(Photo by Ke Hao)VIP 候车室，乘务员与乘客开心聊天。（柯皓 摄）

Passengers taking photos in front of the Xiangyang Railway Station.(Photo by Ke Hao and Qian Jicheng)乘客在襄阳站前拍照留念。（柯皓 潜继承 摄）

Opening of the Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge on October 15,1957.1957年10月15日，武汉长江大桥建成通车。

An aerial view of Yangluo New Port in Wuhan.Wuhan has sped up its construction of a shipping center in the middle reaches along the Yangtze River.(Photo by Xiao Jinsong)武汉新港阳逻集装箱港区。武汉加快推进长江中游航运中心建设。(肖劲松 摄）

Debut of “Hanhai No.1” on November 16,2018.The giant ship fully loaded with 1,140 containers sailed directly to the East China Sea,marking a milestone in Wuhan’s shipping industry with a carrying capacity of “1,000+ containers.”2018年11月16日“汉海1 号”长江巨轮首航，满载1140 个集装箱驶向东海，标志着武汉航运进入“千箱时代”。

Xianghe Coal Wharf,a busy wharf in Hanyang where ships were crowded on the riverbank opposite Hankou,at the beginning of the 20th century.20 世纪初汉阳襄河煤码头，帆樯林立的对岸是繁忙的汉口。

In the 1990s,on the tarmac of South Lake Airport,passengers getting off the plane,luggage in tow.20 世纪90年代，南湖机场停机坪，人们下飞机后，拖着行李往外走。

Today’s Wuhan Tianhe Airport如今的武汉天河机场