Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge

Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge, constructed from 1961 to 1968, is a double-decker bridge with a highway on the top level and a railway bridge on the bottom level. It stretches 6,772 meters (22,212 ft). The two 70 meters (230 ft) towers at each end of the bridge contain fee-charged elevators for personal access to the decks of the bridge and the watchtower. Under the bridge tower at the southern end is located a heavily-planted park freely open to the public.

As it is the first bridge constructed by the Chinese nation alone after the Russian engineers withdrew for both Communist parties separated their developing ways, specific Chinese socialist characteristic abounds in the décor design of the bridge: the over-10-meter-tall revolution figures of different classes in front of both watchtowers, the three red banners representing the guideline and direction of the day on watchtowers, the south tower bridge exhibition hall with the Chair Mao statue and the bridge documents, 200 cast iron bas-reliefs on the banisters of the highway sides depicting the Chinese diverse landscape and extolling the achievement of socialism like the particular political uplifting signals of the day--hollow-out sunflowers and suns, pentagram, booming industry, natural beauty, etc. Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge, more than a bridge, is also a nation pride symbol and era witness.

This meaningful bridge still encounters blowup or retention dispute for over 40 year's traffic has been challenging the aging bridge structure and its low construction controversially blocks Yangtze water course communication. Compromising to the surging modern need or sticking to the history-filled memory, it is still not sure and the time will tell. Traffic crawl is not new (especially 8:00am-9:00am, 5:00pm-6:00pm) on this toll-free bridge and please watch out the fast-speed scooter and bikes on the sidewalks when you walk.