Brief information on Zhongshan Iron Bridge  

Zhongshan Bridge is the first bridge over the Yellow River. It lies at the foot of Bai Ta Mountain and in front of Jin Cheng Pass in Lanzhou city, the capital of Gansu Province.

Though there were many floating bridges over the Yellow River before Zhongshan Bridge was built, only one existed for a relatively long period. This bridge was called Zhen Yuan Floating Bridge and was composed of more than 20 ships tied up by ropes and chains. It floated on the river and helped people to cross it but was neither steady nor safe enough. Floods destroyed the bridge or even killed people almost every year. It was again a problem in the winter. The ice would build up on the river and the bridge would have to undergo renovation afterwards, which was a costly process. After serving for over 500 years, the Zhen Yuan Floating Bridge finally closed in 1909. It is then an iron bridge was built and this new bridge is the Zhongshan Iron Bridge which is called as the First Bridge over the Yellow River today.

In 1907, a proposal to build a bridge was put forward by the local officers in Lanzhou and Gansu. With the help of a German businessman, the Qing Government began the construction of the first iron bridge over the northern side of the Yellow River. All materials including the rivets were transported from Germany to China by ships, trains, carts and other means possible. The bridge was completed in two years and given the name ’Lanzhou Iron Bridge over the Yellow River’. In the year 1942, the bridge was renamed Zhongshan Bridge in honor of Dr. Sun Yat-sen. (Zhongshan is the Chinese name of Dr. Sun Yat-sen).

The period of Zhongshan Bridge expired in 1989 and by then about 10 bridges had been built across the river. Even though many bridges were planned to replace the Zhongshan Bridge none could replace its great value in history and its work even after 80 years. The Zhongshan Bridge is remembered forever as a piece of history and a cultural relic.

*You can download the bilingual note to show it to a taxi driver or someone else to find your way to Zhongshan Iron Bridge if you plan to visit Zhongshan Iron Bridge and have language problems.

   

Hours: 24hours
Location: Lanzhou City
Address: Binghe Rd.
Transportation: Buses: 9, 34, 26, 111, 139, 112, 105, 136, 15