Over a century ago, the most renowned railway station in history was neither Beijing Railway Station nor Shanghai Railway Station, but the Old Hankou Railway Station, also known as the Jinghan Railway Station. Located in the Dazhimen area, locals in Wuhan commonly referred to it as the Dazhimen Railway Station.
The Jinghan Railway Station was the largest railway hub in Asia during the early 20th century. Initially spanning 800 square meters, its main station building featured a two-story structure with sloping roofs, arched vaulted porticos, and square brick-carved pilasters. Flanked by single-story annex buildings on both sides, the station's completion and the subsequent railway operations fundamentally transformed the urban landscape of Hankou.
In 1917 (the 6th year of the Republic of China), the Dazhimen Railway Station underwent reconstruction on its original site, transforming into three major two-story buildings. The project was financed by Belgian banks and designed by French engineers. Its architectural design embodied Western neoclassical aesthetics, featuring four prominent corner towers at the central section's four corners.
In 1906, as the first locomotive on the Jinghan Railway departed from Jiang'an with a whistle blast, it marked a historic milestone—this modern railway traversing the heartland of China was independently constructed by Chinese engineers. The Dazhimen Railway Station thus became the starting point of the national railway artery.
The Dazhimen Railway Station originally served as the southern terminus of China's first long-distance standard-gauge railway - the Lugouqiao-Hankou Railway (later renamed the Jinghan Railway). This historic station stands as a significant relic of modern railway construction in China.
After the establishment of New China in 1949, Dazhimen Railway Station was renamed Hankou Railway Station. The station remained in operation until its closure in 1991. Today, it stands as a scenic landmark in the bustling downtown area of Hankou, preserving the historical legacy of railway station architecture.
