Old Train Station Photos Preserve Past in Binhai New Area

A look at Tanggu South Station [Photo by Lyu Shisen/For chinadaily.com.cn]

Photos of an old railway station and a staff member recently impressed many online readers during a photo contest launched by Tianjin’s Binhai New Area early this month.

The photos were shot by Lyu Shisen, a 73-year-old retired professor who lives in the district.

Built in 1888, Tanggu South Station in Binhai New Area was the earliest and best-preserved passenger train station in China, according to the station.

Because of development in the area, the station, which is located in the TEDA Business District, closed to passenger service in 2004 and halted all business in 2019.

After ceasing operations, it became a cultural relic.

Liu Tongxiang, now 63, is pictured. He worked at the station for more than 40 years and has a deep attachment to it. Lyu, the photgrapher, visited the station in 2017, and made friends with Liu.

He came to the station frequently and captured many heart-touching moments of Liu working there in his final 10 months before his retirement in 2017.

Lyu published the photos in the recent photo contest.