24-year-old Clicks 100,000 Photos of Trains in 30 Countries

Wang Tiancheng, 24, has taken more than 100,000 photos about trains in nearly 30 countries and regions around the world. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Over the past 10 years, Wang Tiancheng has shot more than 100,000 photos about trains in nearly 30 countries and regions, including Ethiopia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Russia and Thailand. Wang, 24, who was born in Daqing, Northeast China’s Heilongjiang province, developed keen interest in trains in childhood.“Every month, my parents would take me by train to visit my grandparents who lived in a city about 300 kilometers away,” he said. “I was always too excited to fall asleep before the trip.” Around 2005, Wang made a number of friends with people who shared his interest online and began his train-exploring journey.

A train goes through a forest on Ali Mountain in Taiwan in Sept 2015. [Photo by Wang Tiancheng/ for chinadaily.com.cn]

With a small digital camera, the then-junior school student took advantage of his vacations and traveled around the country with these friends. As his outstanding academic performance exempted him from the national college entrance exam and got him admitted directly into university, he got more time to travel to countries like India, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines and Thailand. “I feel so lucky that my parents trusted me and gave me freedom since my childhood,” he said. “They also supported me to make all kinds of bold attempts.” Over the years, he has embraced such challenges as threats from animals in the wild, poor weather and traffic conditions.

An international train of Beijing-Moscow rail line runs in Ulan Bator in Sept 2016. [Photo by Wang Tiancheng/ for chinadaily.com.cn]

His experience has also improved his photography style. “At first, it was all about taking a good-looking picture. But later, I became more obsessed with what’s behind the railway, and explore the relationship between the train, times and people.” Busy preparing for his overseas study, Wang said his passion for trains would always remain an essential part of his life. “Train is the epitome of history,” he said. “I will never stop my study of railway culture and I hope to develop more detailed topics in the future.”

A train runs in snow in the area of Greater Khingan Mountains, Northeast China’s Heilongjiang province, in Jan 2016. [Photo by Wang Tiancheng/ for chinadaily.com.cn]

A train runs in Vietnam in May 2017. [Photo by Wang Tiancheng/ for chinadaily.com.cn]

Passengers look out from a train in Zambia in April 2018. [Photo by Wang Tiancheng/ for chinadaily.com.cn]

A train driver waits for rescue after a rail line broke down in Malaysia in Jan 2018. [Photo by Wang Tiancheng/ for chinadaily.com.cn]

A train driver in Tanzania in April 2018. [Photo by Wang Tiancheng/ for chinadaily.com.cn]

A train stops at Yakeshi city of Hulunbuir, North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, in Feb 2019. [Photo by Wang Tiancheng/ for chinadaily.com.cn]