In 1904, the Imperial Qing decided to build a railway between Beijing and Zhang Jiakou. Both the Great Britain and Russia showed their interest in the project. In face of the fierce competition betweem the two powers, the Qing Government didn't dare to offend any one of them. As a result, it decided to launch the project itself. In 1905, Zhan Tianyou was hired as the chief engineer. Western powers laughed at the decision: "China hasn't seen the birth of such an engineer who is capable of building this railway." Against heavy odds, Zhan Tianyou ovecame a series of technical obstacles and eventually succeeded in constructing the first China-made railway in 1909. His success not only opened a new page in the history of Chinese railway but also boosted Chinese people's self-confidence.

After the Imperial Qing was toppled, Zhan Tianyou played an important role in the building of the new Republic.

Zhan helped build the first Chinese constructed railroad-the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Line from 1905 to 1909. He designed a double-pronged rail system and employed the "shaft construction method" to excavate tunnels. His contributions to railroad construction on a particularly tricky section of the line have inspired engineers and workers ever since.

¡¡Zhan Tianyou(1861-1919) was born in Nanhai. He went to the United States to study in 1872, and he was the first student to study abroad at the official fees in modern history of China. In June 1878 he was enrolled into Civil Engineering Department of Yale University in railway engineering and he was graduated with bachelor degree. In 1881, he returned to China after graduation and went to Fuzhou Mawei Ship Affair School for remediation. He ever participated in the Sino-France Mawei Sea War. Later he worked as a teacher in Mawei Ship Affair School, Guangzhou Boxue School, Guangdong Haitu Water and Land Force School. In 1888, he was appointed as the Engineer of China Railway Company and attented in building Jin-yu Railwa. In 1894 he was elected as the member of British Engineering Research Society. In 1900 he was appointed as the Engineer of Ping(xiang) Li(ling) Railway. In 1902 he was appointed as the Chief Engineer of Xinyi Railway. In 1905 he was appointed as Chief Engineer of Jingzhang Railway, in charge of building Jingzhang Railway. He invented the train automatic hook, who was the first person to desing railway in China. In 1909, after completion of the railway, he was awarded the Engineering Jinshi by the Qing Dynasty. Later he was appointed as the Chief of Yuehan Railway, Supervisor of Yuechuan Railway and Director of China Engineer Association. He was ever appointed as the China Technical Representative in negotiating with Czar Russia for Zhongdong Railway to argue for road right. In April 1919 he died in illness in Hankou. His works include "Jingzhang Railway Engineering Summary".