‘Father of Shanghai Metro network’ dies aged 87
Print Edition
THE underground engineering and tunnel expert Liu Jianhang, who is widely regarded as the father of Shanghai’s Metro network, died on Sunday at the age of 87.
Liu, an academic at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, tackled many major technical challenges in the field of underground engineering.
After graduating from Shanghai Jiao Tong University in 1951, he started his career in Shanghai and took part in preparation work for the construction of the city's Metro network in 1958.
Shanghai has very complicated geological conditions, such as soft soil, that pose serious engineering challenges. It was once considered impossible to establish a Metro network under such conditions. An expert from the formal Soviet Union even said: “It's like finding a fulcrum in the universe to leverage the Earth.”
However, after repeated experiments, Liu and his colleagues finally developed new techniques that were used in the construction of the Dapu Road Tunnel, the city's first tunnel across the Huangpu River. The tunneling technique later made the construction of the city’s Metro system possible.
In 1958, Liu was named general engineer of the city's first Metro line and he was later involved in the development of Line 2 and over 20 underground tunnels in the city. In 2008, Liu donated 250,000 yuan (US$37,500) to set up a fund with institutions including Shanghai Shentong Group, the city’s Metro operator, to sponsor young underground engineering technicians and academic events.
Liu was famously modest about his achievements. Though praised as “Father of Shanghai Metro network,” he once said: “I’m just a veteran.”
“It gives me great satisfaction to do something for my beloved underground engineering cause.”
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