Two intersection street map of Caiyuanba Observation Platform

In 1998, I was still young. At that time, most of the activities were in the Jiangbei and Yubei areas. Every time I walked into my mother city Yuzhong, I felt a sense of pilgrimage - without a doubt, for a non Yuzhong district teenager, the moment we walked through two intersections was like entering the city.

Imagine a young boy from a district in Chongqing who is even farther away from here - taking a bus to the Niujiaotuo hub station. Step on the longest escalator in Asia, look up at the light at the top of the escalator, and step out of the door. A huge turntable, surging traffic, and a Fu An department store hanging huge posters came rushing towards us

Time is too long, I can no longer bring back the impact that all of this had on that girl back then.

But there is no doubt that this moment will immediately make people understand: what kind of real scene should the so-called wave crest of the trend be.

Two Intersection Street Scene Photography/Yulike

The old story is vague yet still shining brightly. Now that I have settled in Yuzhong District, it seems to be related to that moment back then. Memory cannot recall the emotions of the past, but it can lead us to judge and recognize the two intersections.

We look forward to the completion of multiple key projects at Lianglukou in the near future, bringing a shining light to the entire Yuzhong and even Chongqing, a city light that transcends daily trivialities and remains in the heart of that young girl back then.

Mainly due to the terrain here - as the most important transportation hub in Chongqing, it was a hub for north-south and east-west traffic.

It used to be an important node for Chongqing's outward expansion: today's two intersections, Zhongshan Second Road, Zhongshan Third Road, and Changjiang Road intersect here, leading west to Daping and Shiqiaopu, and north to Jiangbei. Many people believe that this is the name of "Two Crossroads". In fact, the name 'Lianglukou' existed in the late Qing Dynasty. During the Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China, there were two important roads leading from Old Chongqing City to Chengdu. One was from Nanjimen, passing through Leijiapo and Chuandao. The other one is the official road (now Zhongshan Road) that leads out of the city from Tongyuan Gate. The two roads converge at two intersections, leading west to Fotuguan and then to Chengdu in the distance. The two intersections are named after this.

The old photos of the two cable stations are from the internet

Many places in Chongqing have been bustling with people in various eras, but the two intersections are just a process of reaching these places.

Photography of the Crown Escalator at Two Crossroads by Yulike

However, no one has ever lost confidence in the two intersections, because the development of the region is not accidental. The center must inevitably return to the center, which is a regional inevitability. The convenient transportation location at the intersection, profound cultural heritage, and powerful resource strength accumulated over time all imply the value of the center.

It also means the inevitability of the city's light shining once again.

When the pointer of time reaches 2022, when we truly step into the crossroads, we truly realize that this place is already different.

Before counting the two brand new intersections, it is necessary for us to recall the glorious years here again. After all, during the Anti Japanese War, the two intersections were located in the urban area of Chongqing, the wartime capital. They left a brilliant mark in the history of the World Anti Fascist War and the Chinese Anti Japanese War.

The US Embassy, Soviet Embassy, Australian Embassy, Roosevelt Library, skydiving tower, and more are all gathered here. Under each place name, they carry the most iron blooded time and years.

Photography of the former site of the US Embassy by Yulik

On August 1, 1940, the National Central Library was completed, which later became the Roosevelt Library. It endured the war at the intersection of the two roads until it was relocated to Nanjing in 1946, preserving countless materials. It was the first and only library in Chinese history named after a foreign president and was designated as a United Nations data repository. It was also one of only five national libraries in the country at that time.

Roosevelt Library Photography/Youlik

In 1941, with the help of Song Ziwen, Song Qingling moved into this two-story courtyard at Lianglukou. Here, we will communicate with the outside world, report the real situation of the Chinese people's resistance against Japan, strive for international assistance, and transport a large amount of funds, medicines, medical equipment, food supplies, and other rescue materials to China through various channels to support the resistance against Japan.

Defend the Former Headquarters of the Chinese Alliance (Former Residence of Soong Ching ling in Chongqing) Photography by You Lick

In October 1941 of the same year, the skydiving tower began construction at Lianglukou and was completed in 1942. This is the work of the architectural master Yang Tingbao. During the shortage of pilots, many people went to the front line after skydiving training here.

Old photos of skydiving tower from the internet

Another year passed, and in 1943, within a half-hour walk of Soong Ching ling, the Roosevelt Library welcomed a librarian named Jin Yong. Now it seems that there is a waste of talent, and in fact, the relationship with the director Jiang Futang was also utilized back then.

Jin Yong's old photos are from the internet

Now, all of this is preserved at the intersection of the two roads, the former residence at the intersection of the two roads, and the old site at the intersection of the two roads, recording the stories of the past. This is a shining moment at the intersection of two roads, at a turning point in China's destiny, shining with each moment of history.

After the establishment of New China, the two intersections continued their popularity and resources, with the construction of the Otawan Sports Stadium, Cultural Palace, and Youth Palace all located here.

Photography of the Cultural Palace Gate/Ordinary

In the past, regardless of age, everyone could spend a day at the Chongqing Cultural Palace and Youth Palace. Citizens and tourists from other places could come to the Goose Ridge Park and Loquat Mountain Park for sightseeing and sightseeing, watch a widescreen movie at the Shancheng Cinema, and go shopping at the Lianglukou Department Store and Fu'an Department Store... In the new era, the Goose Ridge Second Factory has become a new destination and a must visit place for tourists from other places to check in Chongqing.

The two intersections in the new era continue the status of Chongqing's transportation arteries, with the intersection of Metro Line 3 and Line 1 connecting important commercial districts such as Jiangbei District, Nan'an District, Banan District, and Shapingba District.

The Zengjiayan Tunnel runs through the Yuzhong Peninsula via two entrances and connects to Jiangbei District through the Zengjiayan Bridge, leading directly to Chongqing North Station.

Photography of Zengjiayan Bridge by Zhang Kunkun

Since the earliest cable car and the most popular subway, the intersection has always had a transportation system that extends from heaven to earth, and this transportation system has been constantly upgraded with the changes of the times.

This is a six lane "cross level crossing" that connects Shangqing Temple Caiyuanba Bridge and Changjiang 1st Road Zhongshan 2nd Road, connecting the north-south and east-west urban arteries to quickly divert passing vehicles. This will be a comprehensive project formed by municipal roads and overlying buildings. The 6-lane "cross level crossing" road is a closed box shaped road, with a large roof slab on the top of the road. The roof slab is partially converted into a commercial podium, and a large-span steel structure skylight is set at the center of the "cross level crossing".

Stereoscopic Traffic Photography at Two Intersections/Yulike

This new transportation link may become a new internet celebrity, just like the cable car in the 1950s and the Crown Escalator in the 1990s. This means that urban transportation has not been transferred to residents with the development of land, but has taken on the mission of upgrading transportation more smoothly.

However, precisely because of this, what gives people the impression of two intersections is their position in transportation - this situation often occurs when one function is greater than the other.

This is one of the streets in Chongqing where people are most eagerly anticipating and laughing the most.

The Cultural Palace started construction in July 1951 and was completed in 1952. The first Grade A sports stadium after the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Otawan Sports Stadium, was also launched in the same year as the Cultural Palace. It was not until 1956 that the 120000 square meter Datianwan Sports Stadium was declared completed, just across the road from the Cultural Palace.

Old photos of the design model of Otawan Sports Stadium from the internet

Many old residents at the intersection have memories of watching outdoor movies at the Cultural Palace, asking their parents for 50 cents and bringing their own folding stools. On summer nights, the outdoor movie venue is crowded with people. The most exciting moment of the sports arena was in the millennium - when it was rumored that the millennium bug would destroy all computers, but this did not happen. Instead, it was Li Zhangzhu who held the FA Cup Champions League match at the Otawan Stadium. The entire two intersection street was packed with cheering fans, and even the aunt who didn't watch the game recalled with a proud smile: "It was so noisy... forget it, let them go crazy

This kind of madness was repeatedly staged during the Da Tian Wan concerts of Faye Wong, Leon Lai, Jacky Cheung, Qi Qin, and others. These exciting and joyful moments of life all happened in a short period of time from Ota Bay to the Cultural Palace and the Grand Hall.

The current promotion is the protection and renovation of the "Datian Bay Cultural Palace Great Hall Cultural Landscape Area", which connects the loquat mountain landscape area, Erling, and Fotuguan Park into a main line, giving full play to the true role of the two intersections.

The pictures of the Otawan Sports Stadium under upgrading construction are provided by the construction party

The fate of the intersection is the center.

In every era, whether it is a political location, a transportation hub, or even the geometric center of the current mother city Yuzhong.

Among the ongoing renovation projects at Lianglukou, the renovation of the Cultural Palace may be the most touching.

This is the former site of Chuandong Normal School, which was built in 1952 as the Chongqing Labor People's Cultural Palace. Deng Xiaoping, who was then the first secretary of the Southwest Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, personally inscribed the name of the palace. In the past, the Cultural Palace Cinema and Cultural Square were important venues for large-scale park activities during city wide gatherings and festivals.

The old photos of the predecessor of the Cultural Palace, Chuandong Normal School, are from the internet

The old residents at Lianglukou remember the open-air movie after the completion of the Cultural Palace. When the movie was performed, the family didn't give 5 cents, and a few friends pulled them over the wall to watch from the back of the movie screen. The picture was reversed, and it didn't seem like a problem. It was also a highlight of childhood. From 1952 to 2004, without realizing it, the Cultural Palace became the longest outdoor cinema in China to broadcast outdoor movies.

Old photos of outdoor movies from the internet

Every inch of land in the city has an incredibly wonderful past and present. Even if the dust of time accumulates and buries it, new things, new life, and new ideas that constantly emerge on this land will break through the soil, rejuvenate and bring vitality to the city, making the quality of the city continuously improve and develop. In October 2020, the Cultural Palace was enclosed and the renovation officially began.

Old photos of the Cultural Palace from the internet

After two years of renovation, more than half of it has been completed. According to the specific renovation plan currently announced, the Cultural Palace will restore its original appearance and functional positioning, including improvements in architectural style, public facilities, environmental quality, and traffic organization. For the entire intersection, it is more practical that in the future, all ground parking spaces in the Cultural Palace will be cancelled and replaced with underground parking spaces.

The renovation project of Datianwan Sports Stadium is another focus of attention for all citizens of Chongqing.

This was once the first Grade A sports stadium after the founding of the People's Republic of China. It was built under the leadership of Marshal He Long in 1951 and completed in 1956. It covers an area of 97500 square meters and was one of the top ten buildings in Chongqing during the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Photography of the He Long Statue at Datian Bay Sports Stadium/Yulike

This used to be the home stadium of A-League, A-League, or Chinese Super League teams such as Vanguard Huandao, Chongqing Longxin, Chongqing Lifan, Chongqing Hongyan, and Chongqing Jialing. It was the birthplace of Chongqing sports and a totem for fans. The cultural and sports scene at the Datian Bay Stadium has blossomed. Since 1998, superstars such as Faye Wong, Leon Lai, and Jacky Cheung, as well as mainland rock bands and Qi Qin, have performed similar hot and crazy performances here.

The on-site pictures of the past football match are from the internet

The renovation progress of the Datian Bay Sports Stadium is also halfway through, and the enclosure area is gradually expanding. After the National Day holiday, the enclosure is approaching Hilton, and the last parking lot under the He Long statue is enclosed in the renovation area.

What will it look like after the veil is lifted? According to the official website of the National Development and Reform Commission's "Reply on the Investment Estimate for the Protection and Utilization Project of Datianwan Sports Stadium", a more detailed modification plan has been made for the protection and utilization project of Datianwan Sports Stadium - the total investment estimate for the protection and utilization project is 577.13 million yuan, with a total land area of 111334 square meters. The main construction content includes new construction, repair, and demolition, with a new construction area of 42918 square meters and 788 new parking spaces.

Photography/Yulike

The pictures of the upcoming upgrade and renovation of the Otawan Sports Stadium are provided by the construction party

According to the previous plan, a sports ecological park will be built outside the Otawan Sports Stadium, highlighting the construction of sports ecological culture, achieving a perfect combination of sports and environment, and creating a more comfortable fitness and leisure environment for the surrounding people.

After the demolition of Shancheng Cinema and Fu'an Department Store, a building complex named Chongqing Center was built on their original site.

Chongqing Central Photography under Construction/Youlik

Undoubtedly, this name holds extraordinary significance for the entire city.

The project covers an area of 50000 square meters and consists of 6 super high-rise buildings and large commercial properties. The design firm, Rogers Stark Haber Architects, is an international architectural design firm headquartered in London and has won the Pritzker Prize in Architecture, also known as the "Nobel Prize in Architecture".

It is reported that after the completion of the project, the 380 meter landmark tower will overlook the whole city and become another new landmark in Chongqing. This is a super large urban complex that integrates high-end residential buildings, large commercial centers, five-star hotels, business office buildings, and apartments.

Chongqing Center is located at the core of two intersections. Photography by Yulike

In addition, the site where the project is located is the location of the Shancheng Cinema, which was most familiar to the old Chongqing residents. The relevant person in charge stated that after the completion of the Chongqing Center project, a cinema will be opened and historical and cultural elements of the old Shancheng Cinema will be introduced, even naming it "Shancheng" Cinema to evoke memories of old Chongqing.