"Before, when I bought groceries and carried a bag of rice, I had to stop to catch my breath when climbing the stairs. Now, the escalator takes me up directly—even my husband’s wheelchair can be pushed up steadily!" On August 28, at the entrance of Qingxiangping Underground Passage in Xi District, Panzhihua City, Aunt Li spoke with obvious joy as she held her groceries and leaned on the handrail of the newly installed escalator. This "livelihood passage," which serves the daily travel needs of tens of thousands of nearby residents, was put into service with a brand-new look after more than two months of renovation. The two escalators have now connected the residents’ sense of happiness.

The Livelihood Concern in the Old Passage

Qingxiangping Underground Passage is a "vital thoroughfare" in the core business district of Xi District. Linking large shopping malls, residential communities, and bus hubs, it sees a large flow of people every day—including office workers, senior citizens, parents with children, and shoppers.

However, its long-standing design with only staircases for access has turned this "must-pass route" into a "source of frustration" for many. "During morning rush hour, I rush to catch the bus, but I can barely keep steady when climbing the stairs with a suitcase," one resident complained. Another said, "I have to ask for help to lift my stroller up the steps." Others noted, "On rainy days, the steps get slippery, and seniors dare not walk on them at all." Such grievances have long been a "long-standing problem" weighing on the residents’ minds.

"Livelihood pain points are the starting point of our work," a relevant person in charge of the Xi District Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau admitted. As early as the survey conducted at the beginning of this year, the traffic issue at the underground passage was included in the "priority list." After multiple rounds of on-site surveys and plan comparisons, the "optimal solution" of "installing upward and downward escalators" was finally confirmed. This approach not only retains the original staircases to meet diverse needs but also fills the gap in addressing the travel difficulties of special groups, truly achieving an "age-friendly environment for all."

Meticulous Construction Reassures Residents

The implementation of livelihood projects relies on scientific organization and meticulous construction. To ensure the safe and efficient progress of the project, the renovation of the underground passage officially kicked off on June 19 this year, with the erection of green construction barriers. During the construction period, relevant departments posted notices in prominent locations and conducted extensive publicity through the media. They guided passing vehicles and pedestrians to slow down and pass in an orderly manner, strictly following the temporarily added crosswalks and traffic signal instructions—effectively ensuring construction safety and smooth traffic order in the surrounding area.

After nearly two months of intensive construction, the construction barriers at Qingxiangping Underground Passage were successfully removed on August 8. The escalator equipment was fully installed and commissioned, and all cleaning work was completed, restoring normal pedestrian traffic. On August 28, the two brand-new escalators have passed the special equipment safety inspection and are officially "put into service with qualification."

"Although we felt a bit unaccustomed during the closed-off construction period, we all showed understanding when we saw the workers staying overtime to speed up progress," said Mr. Wang, a resident of Qingxiangping Subdistrict in Xi District. "From the erection of the barriers to the installation of the main escalator structure, then to ground cleaning and the final put-into-use of the escalators, the entire construction process was open and transparent. We are all very happy to use the escalators now."

Small Renovations Ignite the City's Great Warmth

Today, standing at the entrance of the passage, one can see the silver-gray escalators ascending and descending slowly, with the mirrored glass reflecting the smiling faces of passers-by. Grandma Liu, pushing a stroller, no longer needs to ask for help; white-collar workers carrying laptop bags hurry through without being out of breath; and Grandpa Chen, in a wheelchair, can now cross the street by himself.

"Installing escalators may seem like a small matter, but it is closely related to the people's daily travel experience," the relevant person in charge of the Xi District Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau stated. This project of adding escalators to the passage is an important practice of Xi District in actively responding to the people's concerns, improving urban infrastructure, and enhancing public service standards. Going forward, the district will continue to focus on livelihood needs, implement services for the people in practice, and make urban development more warm.

The escalators in the underground passage are running smoothly. The laughter of children, the cries of vendors, and the soft hum of the running escalators intertwine into a melody. These two brand-new escalators, which carry the residents' eager expectations for convenient travel, have become another warm footnote to Xi District's efforts in improving the city's livability and practicing the original aspiration of serving the people. (Text/Photos by Tian Jinyan, Xu Tingting)