Pingtan Island is the closest place on the mainland to the island of Taiwan, a rising international tourism island, and also home to China's tunneling industry. As an island that grew "no grass but rocks." Pingtan's challenging terrains gave birth to tough people and paved the way for its impressive feats and made a name in the tunneling industry.

Gao Chengtai (Right), Pingtan’s first-generation tunneller, tells his story and sheds light on the grueling industry.

Gao entered the tunneling industry at the age of 47 and retired at 69. The 78-year-old man said, “I miss the construction site so much that I would like to return to work. It's relaxing to fall asleep to the roars of machinery and catch sight of tunnels."

"My father passed away unexpectedly when I was 7 years old. Soon after, I led a hard life." After dropping out of school at 18, Gao worked as a fisherman and supported his family with his meager income.

After being a fisherman for 23 years, the country initiated the life-changing policy of the “reform and opening-up.” Gao decided to do business and opened a fishing gear shop. 

Gao told reporters that a small fishing gear shop has brought new changes to his family and made him aware that there are more possibilities in life.

At 47, Gao started his tunneling career in southwestern Guangxi province under the introduction of his brother-in-law.

Gao keeps the family photo he took at the tunneling site for the first time on his mobile phone.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, most of tunneling work involved grueling manual labor as modern machinery was almost non-existent.

"Early on, the whole family lived at the construction site. We only went back home once a year. I participated in the building of over 10 tunnels, which I take pride in. The process was arduous but worth it.”

Gao Chengtai recalled that in its heyday, Pingtan tendered for tunnels valued at 100 billion yuan, taking up 80% of the national total.

"In the early days, a tunnel was less than 800 meters, but it took us nearly 4 years to get it done. Back then, there were no excavators. Massive workers dug the holes with trolleys, shovels, and hand tractors. Landslides occurred and lives were lost."

"The living conditions were poor. We lived in an asbestos shack, and when it poured heavily, there would be a light shower in the shack."

There were many uncertainties in the tunnel industry. In most cases, the family borrowed money to invest in the industry. The crunch came when there was something wrong with capital liquidity. As long as we pull it through, the payback would be considerable.

Local islanders tend to be enduring. Perhaps this kind of "sea salt spirit" they possess is the result of being subjected to the rough sea gale all year round.

Gao added that the tunneling industry has been changing for the better since 2,000. Various machinery equipment was brought in to improve efficiency as well as safety.

"Now construction sites are mechanized, and some are even equipped with intelligent facilities. This indicates progress. 

"Now, my son is also engaged in the tunneling industry. He is doing a better job," said proudly Gao Chengtai. Many tunnellers of Pingtan like Gao rely on "a hammer to make their way." Through numerous individual struggles, Pingtan has created the "Pingtan Brand" in the country.

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