Currently, the Chongqing-Wanzhou High-Speed Railway — one of the national “eight vertical and eight horizontal” high-speed rail network corridors — is racing toward its goal of opening to traffic in April next year.

At the construction site of the Longjingwan Double-Track Bridge on this railway line, a bridge girder erector measuring 91.8 meters in length and weighing 600 tons, supported by hundreds of wheels, can easily turn around in 30 minutes with millimeter-level precision.

The key to achieving this remarkable feat lies in a turning device with a diameter of only 4.5 meters!

At the Huanghua Beam Yard of the Tianjin-Weifang Railway Project, a turning device produced by Hanjiang Heavy Industry is performing the task of turning the bridge girder erector.

This equipment was developed and manufactured by Hanjiang Heavy Industry Co., Ltd., based in Xiangyang. It once assisted the world’s first thousand-tonne high-speed railway bridge girder transport and erection integrated machine, the “Kunlun,” in completing the first-ever aerial turn of a bridge girder erector in China.

“It’s like using one finger to lift a 6.6-kilogram dumbbell,” explained a director of the Bridge Equipment Research Institute of Hanjiang Heavy Industry’s Design and R&D Center. Under the support of this “steel joint,” the giant bridge girder erector can rotate 180 degrees on the spot with both agility and stability.

Inside the production workshop of Hanjiang Heavy Industry in Fancheng District, Xiangyang, workers are manufacturing the base of the turning device.

In June, the world’s first thousand-tonne transport and erection integrated bridge girder machine, the “Kunlun,” was transporting heavy beams among rugged mountains to allow the high-speed railway to span vast rivers and mountains. This national heavy equipment was developed and produced by Hanjiang Heavy Industry.

As China’s high-speed rail network continues to expand, the development of equipment for laying high-speed railway bridges has also advanced rapidly. When building high-speed railways in China, elevated bridges are generally constructed. This not only reduces the constraints of complex terrain on the railway but also minimizes the impact on residents’ lives. The equipment used to erect these high-speed railway bridges is the bridge girder erector.

The “Kunlun” is the “king” of bridge girder erectors. It can not only erect bridges at sea but also quickly erect bridges inside tunnels. It is currently China’s most technologically advanced and multifunctional equipment for laying high-speed railway box girders.

“Our bridge girder erectors hold nearly 80% of the domestic market share, ranking first nationwide,” said a director of the Hanjiang Heavy Industry Equipment Manufacturing Plant, with pride. As a national-level specialized and innovative “little giant” enterprise, Hanjiang Heavy Industry is committed to reaching new heights of innovation. Its latest turning device is also the best in the country.

On June 2, inside the Hanjiang Heavy Industry production workshop, a gantry crane lifted thick steel plates and steadily delivered them to the workstation. Amid flying sparks, a circular steel structure with a diameter of 4.5 meters was nearly complete.

“This is the base of the turning device. There can be no deviation,” a director said as he bent down to carefully inspect the welds.

In June 2022, at the construction site of the Hangzhou-Quzhou High-Speed Railway, the “Kunlun” successfully turned around on the subgrade in 30 minutes using this turning device, setting a national precedent.

Inside the production workshop of Hanjiang Heavy Industry in Fancheng District, Xiangyang, workers are manufacturing parts for the turning device.

Before the turning device existed, how did bridge girder erectors turn around?

The traditional method involved transporting the girder erector under the bridge and finding a flat area as long as the machine itself. Then, by repeatedly adjusting the direction and moving back and forth, the turn was completed. “It was costly, complicated, and often took a day or two. In mountainous and hilly areas, it was even more difficult,” a director said.

A director’s desk is covered with thick stacks of design drawings. To enable the bridge girder erector to turn around quickly, the team spent months refining the design.

The “Kunlun” weighs a thousand tonnes, equivalent to the weight of three Airbus A380s. How can ordinary steel meet such enormous load-bearing requirements?

“We had to focus on

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Longjingwan Double-Track Bridge

The Longjingwan Double-Track Bridge is a historic railway bridge located in China, known for its distinctive dual-track design that allowed two trains to pass simultaneously. Built during the early 20th century, it served as a key infrastructure project to improve transportation and trade routes in the region. Today, it stands as a testament to early Chinese railway engineering and is appreciated for its architectural and historical significance.

Huanghua Beam Yard

Huanghua Beam Yard is a historic site in China known for its association with the ancient transportation of timber and stone beams, often linked to the construction of imperial projects during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Located along the Grand Canal, it served as a key storage and transfer point for massive stone beams used in building palaces, bridges, and tombs in Beijing. Today, it stands as a cultural relic reflecting the engineering and logistics of pre-modern China.

Tianjin-Weifang Railway

The Tianjin-Weifang Railway is a historic railway line in northern China, primarily constructed in the early 20th century during the late Qing Dynasty to improve regional transportation and economic links. Originally built as part of the larger Tianjin-Pukou Railway project, the segment connecting Tianjin and Weifang played a key role in facilitating trade and travel between the Bohai Rim and inland Shandong. Over time, it has been modernized and remains an important corridor for passenger and freight services in the region.

Fancheng District

Fancheng District is a historic urban district located in Xiangyang, Hubei Province, China, situated on the northern bank of the Han River. Its history dates back over 2,800 years, serving as a key military and commercial center during the Three Kingdoms period, most famously associated with the Battle of Fancheng in 219 AD. Today, it blends ancient cultural relics, such as the Fancheng Ancient City Wall, with modern development as a bustling residential and economic hub.

Xiangyang

Xiangyang, located in Hubei Province, China, is a historic city renowned for its strategic military importance, particularly during the Three Kingdoms period. It was the site of a famous siege by the Mongol Empire in the 13th century, which lasted for several years and marked a key turning point in the fall of the Southern Song dynasty. Today, Xiangyang is known for its well-preserved ancient city walls, which are among the finest in China, and its rich cultural heritage.

Hangzhou-Quzhou High-Speed Railway

The Hangzhou-Quzhou High-Speed Railway is a major rail link in Zhejiang Province, China, connecting the cities of Hangzhou and Quzhou. Officially opened in late 2021, it spans approximately 240 kilometers and was built to enhance regional connectivity and reduce travel time between the two cities to about an hour. This modern infrastructure project supports economic development and tourism in the western part of Zhejiang, including the historic Quzhou area.

Chongqing-Wanzhou High-Speed Railway

The Chongqing-Wanzhou High-Speed Railway is a key rail link in southwestern China, connecting Chongqing’s urban center with Wanzhou District in the Three Gorges region. Officially opened in November 2020, this 245-kilometer line significantly reduced travel time between the two cities from over four hours to about one hour. It represents a major advancement in China’s high-speed rail network, enhancing regional connectivity and economic development in the mountainous terrain.

Kunlun

Kunlun is a mythical and sacred mountain range in Chinese mythology, often considered the dwelling place of gods and immortals, including the Queen Mother of the West. Historically, it also refers to a real mountain system in western China, which has been a significant geographical and cultural landmark for centuries. The Kunlun Mountains are associated with Taoist legends and have inspired countless works of literature and art, symbolizing a bridge between the earthly and the divine.