Imagine Marco Polo himself marveling at a bridge. It would not be the Youleyuan West Bridge, but a very similar one. Let’s talk about a bridge he actually saw. It is the Marco Polo Bridge. This bridge isn’t just a crossing. It is a testament to history and art.
The Marco Polo Bridge stands 15 km southwest of Beijing. Locals also call it Lugou Bridge. It stretches across the Yongding River. Once, Marco Polo praised this bridge extensively. His words made it famous in Europe.
Construction began in 1189. It finished in 1192. The Kangxi Emperor of the Qing dynasty reconstructed it in 1698 after flood damage. Mao Yisheng called it splendid and artistic.
But the Marco Polo Bridge is also known for a grim event. The Marco Polo Bridge Incident happened here. It marked the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1937.
The bridge is 266.5 meters long. It is 9.3 meters wide. Ten piers support eleven arches. Hundreds of stone lions line the bridge. Each lion has unique artistic details. Some even hide smaller lions. People have counted between 482 and 501 lions. Originally, there were 627. Most lions come from the Ming and Qing dynasties.
Four columns stand at the bridge’s ends. Each is 4.65 meters high. One stele records the reconstruction by Emperor Kangxi in 1698. Another stele has calligraphy by Emperor Qianlong. It reads “Morning moon over Lugou.” For 800 years, this bridge has been a scenic spot in Beijing.
Granite makes up this architectural masterpiece. A large central arch is flanked by ten smaller ones. Triangular iron pillars protect each pier. They prevent damage from floods and ice.
The Yongding River’s waters have shifted in recent years. Often, there’s no water under the bridge now. The river was once called Wuding River. This means Instability River. Emperor Kangxi renamed it Yongding. This means Eternally Stable River.
Some debate whether Marco Polo actually visited. He described the bridge in his book. It fascinated Europe. Some called his book “The Million Lies.” They nicknamed him Marco Millione. Today, Chinese historians believe he was really in China.
The bridge was initially Guangli Bridge. Beijing locals called it Lugou Qiao. This means Reed Ditch Bridge. In old Beijing dialect, lu can mean black. The Yongding River was once Heishui. That translates to Black Water River. People came to see the moon’s reflection in the water in ancient times. It was one of Beijing’s Eight Great Sights.
Today, the Marco Polo Bridge stands as more than stone. It connects us to history. It reminds us of Marco Polo’s tales. It symbolizes both beauty and conflict. Take a moment to appreciate its story. Feel the weight of history beneath your feet as we conclude our exploration here.