The Jinzhang Railway stretches from Beijing to Zhangjiakou. It is well known in China because it was the first of its kind designed and built by Chinese people.    
    The chief engineer for this railway was Zhan Tianyou. Born in 1861 in Guangdong province, he showed an interest in machines at an early age. At eleven, he went to study in the US. Upon his graduation from Yale University in 1881, Zhan returned to China and began his work on the Jinzhang Railway in 1905.
    The Jingzhang Railway must go through an area of hills and mountains. At that time, many people believed no one could ever build a railway there. However, Zhan Tianyou overcame all kinds of difficulties and succeeded in finishing the task. It is considered a brilliant piece of work in Chinese railway history.