They were for many years a lifeline between the north and south of Jiangsu, separated by the mighty Yangtze River. For many along the Yangtze’s downstream, it was either the ferry or a very long trip up to Nanjing where there was the only bridge. Times have changed.
多年来，它们是苏北和苏南之间的生命线，隔着浩瀚的长江。对于长江下游的许多人来说，要么是渡轮，要么是前往南京的长途旅行，那里有唯一的桥梁。时代变了。
On 2 July, the cities of Nantong and Changshu in Jiangsu issued announcements as to a temporary suspending of ferry services. This was followed on 5 July by simultaneous announcements, in a somewhat emotional tone, that services would end permanently.
7月2日，江苏南通市、常熟市发布公告，暂停轮渡服务。随后，7 月 5 日，同时以某种情绪化的语气宣布服务将永久终止。
The reason given for the suspension of sailings? “The ferry does not meet the conditions for safe operation.” And the date chosen? The ferry’s 30th birthday, so as to leave a special and complete historical memory.
停航的原因是什么？ “渡轮不符合安全运营条件。”以及选择的日期？渡轮30岁生日，留下特殊而完整的历史记忆。
But nothing, in this case, can hide the truth.
但在这种情况下，没有什么可以掩盖真相。
From Qidu Wharf today, giant ships continue their infrequent shuttle across the river with vehicles on board few and far between, while three ferries nearby lie old and mottled. Daily losses stand in excess of ¥20,000.
如今，巨轮从七渡码头出发，继续罕见地穿梭在江上，船上车辆稀少且相距甚远，而附近的三艘渡轮则陈旧斑驳。每天的损失超过2万日元。
Backing up to before the ferry’s birth, in the 1990s, the economy of southern Jiangsu was developing rapidly, but Nantong on the northern bank had literally no hand to play in the new game called prosperity.
追溯到渡轮诞生之前的20世纪90年代，苏南地区的经济正在快速发展，而北岸的南通却根本无缘“繁荣”这个新游戏。
Nantong City therefore decided in 1992 to build a vehicular ferry, officially opening out of Nantong Farm on 10 July, 1993, as the Yangtze Evening News reports.
据《扬子晚报》报道，南通市于1992年决定修建汽车轮渡，并于1993年7月10日在南通农场正式通车。
As the millennium turned, and in order to achieve faster crossings, a new home was sought for the ferry. Moving south to its current location in 2004, the ferry virtually halved its crossings’ distance and time required, to 6 kilometres and 25 minutes.
世纪之交，为了实现更快的穿越，人们为渡轮寻找新家。 2004 年，渡轮向南移动至当前位置，渡口距离和所需时间几乎减少了一半，达到 6 公里 25 分钟。
Lu Yonghua, 55, has worked for the ferry since it moved to Qidu Wharf. He recalled the golden years, voices crying out all around and the fast-food vendors on the shore making pots of money.
55岁的卢永华自从该渡轮搬到七都码头后就一直在该渡轮工作。他回忆起那段黄金岁月，周围人声鼎沸，岸边的快餐摊贩赚得盆满钵满。
The good times lasted until 2008, when the Sutong Bridge, ironically built adjacent and with the ferry looking on disapprovingly, was completed and opened to traffic.
美好的时光一直持续到2008年，讽刺的是，毗邻而建、渡轮不以为然的苏通大桥竣工通车。
During those golden years, each ferry could make more than 40 round-trip voyages per day, and voyages per day totalled around 500. But now, with bridges all around, there are only 50-60 voyages per day. Vehicle numbers are less than 10 percent of that they once were.
当年黄金岁月，每艘渡轮每天可以往返40多个航次，每天总计500多个航次。但现在，到处都是桥梁，每天只有50-60个航次。车辆数量不到以前的 10%。
The ferry may be closing, but it shall never disappear from the waterway. The ships are to be maintained for supplementary and emergency use, and for combat readiness. And that cannot be replaced by bridges and tunnels.
渡轮可能会关闭，但它永远不会从水道上消失。这些舰艇将被维护以供补充和紧急使用以及战备。这是桥梁和隧道无法替代的。
