Monthly Archives: March 2024

Railway Stations of the World, Luang Prabang

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Railway Stations of the World takes us to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Luang Prabang.

This station was opened in December 2021.

Luang Prabang Station, Lao PDR
Luang Prabang Station, Lao PDR
Noticeboard and foyer Luang Prabang Station, Lao PDR
Noticeboard and foyer Luang Prabang Station, Lao PDR
Panorama of the inside of Luang Prabang Station
Panorama of the inside of Luang Prabang Station, Lao PDR

Rather an attractive station that is very Chinese in so many ways: the furnishings, the layout, signage and even some of the announcements (I think). However, this is crowned by a wonderful architecture complete with local motifs. It really deserves to have more trains than it currently serves, but maybe, just maybe, if the Belt and Road does expand all the way down to Singapore as planned that will happen.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luang_Prabang_railway_station

Shan Hai Pass

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山海关 or the Shan Hai Pass is one of the most important and the most easterly of the passes through the Ming Great Wall.

It is built as a square, with a perimeter of around four kilometres (2.5 mi). The walls reach a height of 14 metres (46 feet), and are seven metres (23 feet) thick – see bottom picture. The east, south and north sides are surrounded by a deep, wide moat with drawbridges over it. In the middle of the pass stands a tall bell tower.

The location where the wall meets the Bohai Sea is nicknamed the “Old Dragon’s Head” (老龙头). The pass lies nearly 300 kilometres (190 mi) east of Beijing and if I could be bothered there’s a picture in this blog of that as well, guess you’ll just have to find it yourself.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanhai_Pass