Farmers take Chongqing Rail Transit Line 4, referred to as the "line for back baskets", to the city to sell produce on Nov 2, 2024. LIU SONG/ZHAO DANDAN/FOR CHINA DAILY
Chongqing Rail Transit Line 4 spans approximately 48.5 kilometers, connecting the central urban area with rural regions such as Shichuan town. Every morning, villagers carry bamboo baskets on their backs or pull small carts, taking the subway to the city to sell vegetables and fruits. Line 4 carries the hard work and hopes of countless farmers, conveying the inclusiveness and warm spirit of the city. This is the "line for back baskets", a distinctive and vibrant symbol of Southwest China's Chongqing in 2024.
The subway line accommodates briefcases as well as bamboo baskets and carrying poles. The "line for back baskets", full of vitality, is undoubtedly a heartwarming link between urban and rural areas, and a vivid example of urban-rural integrated development. Since May 2024, places such as air-raid shelters have been used as farmers' markets. Now, two and a half years after the line came into operation, the story has seen new changes — urban residents are taking this line to the rural areas to buy vegetables and fruits.
Especially on Shichuan town's market days, urban residents set out early in the morning, taking the "line for back baskets" to the town to buy fresh vegetables. Gradually, a small vegetable market has spontaneously formed at the exit of Shichuan Station on Line 4. Not far away is the farmers' market of Shichuan town, bustling with urban consumers pushing carts and carrying shopping bags.
From farmers carrying baskets of vegetables into the city to consumers pushing carts to the countryside to buy produce, this is not only the best continuation of the basket story but also a vivid example of urban-rural integration, which benefits both farmers and urban residents. Sharing resources between urban and rural areas not only enriches the city's dining tables but also promotes the development of villages and towns along the rail transit line. This boosts agricultural performance, revitalizes rural areas and increases farmers' incomes, which injects new momentum into urban-rural integration, and achieves a true "two-way journey" between urban and rural areas.
Farmers begin entering the station with their back baskets full of vegetables and fruits at 6 am, the moment the gate of Shichuan Station on Line 4 opens on Nov 2, 2024. LIU SONG/ZHAO DANDAN/FOR CHINA DAILY
Urban residents travel to an air-raid shelter in Southwest China's Chongqing to buy fruits and vegetables on May 25, 2024. LIU SONG/ZHAO DANDAN/FOR CHINA DAILY
On her way to the market a farmer takes a brief rest on Chongqing Rail Transit Line 4 on Nov 17, 2024. LIU SONG/ZHAO DANDAN/FOR CHINA DAILY
Farmers carrying their produce take the first train at 6:30 am from Shichuan Station on Line 4 to sell their produce on Nov 2, 2024. LIU SONG/ZHAO DANDAN/FOR CHINA DAILY
Farmers enter the air-raid shelter with their tickets to sell their produce on July 6, 2024. The shelter has been open since May 2024 to help farmers. LIU SONG/ZHAO DANDAN/FOR CHINA DAILY
Urban residents buy the free-range chickens at the farmers' market in Shichuan town on Dec 18, 2024. LIU SONG/FOR CHINA DAILY
