Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge
Nanjing Yangtze Bridge is the most famous bridge that spans across the Yangtze River. It is a double-decked truss bridge that supports automobiles, trains, and foot traffic.
Construction
The bridge is 4,589 meters long, 15 meters wide, and has a height of 70 meters. The railway is 6,772 meters long and 14 meters wide. The bridge is constructed in traditional Chinese style with a double-convex arch bridge with an inlay of 200 cast iron embossments. It supports two trains running opposite directions at the same time, is a four-lane highway, and has two sidewalks on either side.
This remarkable bridge supports 80,000 cars a day and around 200 trains. Many people walk across the bridge and it has become a popular tourist site being listed as one of the top forty scenic spots of Nanjing.
In the 1960s the bridge was in the Guinness Book of World Records for ‘the longest bridge with dual function of highway and railway.
There are several statues on the bridge, tribute to the engineers who built it. The sculptures on either side of the bridge symbolize labor, peasant, soldier, student and the businessman. In one of the towers is a grand statue of Mao Zedong, along with different art collected around China. They are about 230 feet high.
In the center of the bridge is a fantastic spot to take photos of the Yangtze River and the surround areas.
There is also an elevator that can take visitors to the belvedere where they can have a view of the Yangtze River, and the bridge. After visiting the bridge visitors can travel under the south bridge tower to Daqiao Park.
It is suggested to visit the bridge at night to see the 150 pairs of lights that shape the Yunlan flower.
Why Was It Built
Nanjing has always been a busy and important city to China. The Yangtze River made it difficult for crossing and the bridge sprang up to ease the passage and life for those who lived there.
The bridge began construction in the 1960s and was finished eight years later. The Soviet Union was originally part of its construction but pulled out early on, leaving the Chinese to scramble for steel. They overcame the obstacle and now the imposing double-deck bridge.
How to Get There
Take No.12, 15, 67, 69, 307 Buses to Daqiao Park, then cross the bridge in front of the buses to Fukou and Dachang.
Suicides
The Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge is a thing of beauty, but has also become the top suicide spot in China. There are signs posted asking people not to jump off the bridge and to instead seek help. Along with the signs are good citizens that keep watch for anyone who plans to end their life.
The Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge is a thing of engineering beauty, which is a way into one of the most interesting cities in China. It is a bridge connecting two places that creeps over the Yangtze River. It is a place to see the beauty of nature and impressive Chinese ingenuity. Like most of China it cannot simply be read, it needs to be experienced to get the full story.
