Yangtze River Bridge



The Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge is the first bridge to be built across the Yangtze River in Nanjing,
China. It was completed in 1968 and is the first double-decker, double-track highway and railway bridge
designed and constructed by the Chinese without outside engineering assistance. It is 6,772 meters long
and 160 meters wide, which can take 15 minutes to cross during regular traffic time.

The bridge is entirely constructed by the nation itself without external engineering assistance. The
Chinese nationalities are very proud of the bridge even though it was not deemed great in many technical
respects judged by modern technological developments. The bridge is the longest of its kinds in China
and is a landmark for Nanjing.

The bridge is an impressive construction in the northwest of the city. The structure and design of the bridge are particularly impressive. There are
two decks; the upper level carries vehicles and passengers and the lower carries trains over the huge Yangtze River. The railway part is 6,772
meters long, while the highway part 4,589 meters long, including the main bridge of 1,577 meters long. The architecture and decoration of the
bridge are most fascinating, vividly evoking the enthusiasm and patriotism of the 1960s in China. There are 10-meter-high statues of workers,
peasants and soldiers in front of each bridge towers, which is the representation of the culture of that time. The bridge towers in both ends of the
bridge is 70 meters high, with the three models of red flags on the top.

The bridge at night is extremely charming. The illumination of 1,024 floodlights on the banisters, 540 halogen lights on the bridge towers and 150
pairs of lamps of the sidewalks make the bridge look like a pearl string lying on the Yangtze River.

The completion of the bridge has reduced the river crossing time from about two hours by ferry to the course
of only several minutes, which is much more convenient for communication between the two banks of the
Yangtze River.

It's a gigantic masterpiece and includes a bus stop at the top of it, next to a museum. On the western side of
the bridge, a new city is currently being developed.