The Value of Yunnan-Vietnam Railway As an Urban Industrial Heritage: Historical Analysis of Its Landscape Changes

Yunnan-Vietnam Railway, also named Indochina-Yunnan railway, as a historical corridor between China and Southeast Asia, constructed in 1900s according to the development plan of French Indochina, is one of the earliest built railways, the first international railway, as well as the longest narrow gauge and single-track railway in China. This study focuses on the area along this railway in the Chinese section, which links a series of industrial heritages and landscape resources in Yunnan, witnessed many important historical events such as the Sino-Japanese War, telling a history of collaboration and friendship, tumult and hostility. This article, based on the historical records and maps, will figure out the value of this railway as an urban industrial heritage, from the aspect of the relationship between dynamic changing of the main urban areas in Yunnan and this railway in the history. The methodology of historical cartography analysis with the support of a Geographic Information System (GIS) will be employed, to evaluate the consequences of the transformations of environment and landscape along the railroad, to analyze its changing pattern in three periods: under the influence of French Indochina, the WWII and the Chinese modernization, the factors of population, labors, investment and urbanization will be taken into consideration. Through the three-dimensional tool and visual analysis, it will discuss the role of Yunnan-Vietnam railway in the modern history of Yunnan, for a better understanding and protection of this heritage in the future.