Gazing across the Yongding River you can see the Marco Polo Bridge. Also known as Lugou Bridge it stands as a testament to both artistic achievement and historical significance. This bridge isn’t just a way to cross water it’s a journey through time.
The Marco Polo Bridge is located 15 km southwest of Beijing’s city center in the Fengtai District. It bridges the Yongding River. This river is a major tributary of the Hai River. The Wanping Fortress stands guard at the bridge’s eastern end. Inside is the Museum of the War of Chinese People’s Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.
Have you heard of Marco Polo? He visited China in the 13th century. He praised this bridge so highly that it became known in Europe as the Marco Polo Bridge. But its history stretches back even further.
Construction on the original bridge began in 1189. It finished in 1192 during the Jin dynasty. After flood damage the bridge was rebuilt in 1698 under the Qing dynasty’s Kangxi Emperor.
Mao Yisheng a Chinese structural engineer once said something interesting. He said that “the most ancient bridge in China is the Zhaozhou Bridge, the most splendid the Lugou Bridge, and the most elegant and artistic the Five-Pavilion Bridge.”
Sadly the Marco Polo Bridge was also the site of the Marco Polo Bridge Incident. This marked the beginning of the Second Sino-Japanese War. It was a conflict that lasted from 1937 to 1945.
After 1949 the bridge was covered in asphalt. It was used for motor vehicle traffic. To reduce traffic the New Marco Polo Bridge was built in 1971. It is located about 1 km to the south. In 1985 another new bridge was built next to it for the Jingshi Expressway. The old Marco Polo Bridge was then closed to motor vehicles. In 1986 the asphalt was removed during a restoration.
The Marco Polo Bridge stretches 266.5 meters in length and is 9.3 meters wide. It rests on 10 piers and features 11 segmental arches. Hundreds of stone lions line both sides. These lions are all unique and from different eras.
These stone lions have a special secret. Many of the big lions have smaller lions hiding on their heads backs paws or under their bellies. People have tried counting them many times. The numbers range from 482 to 501. Records say there were originally 627 lions. The lions’ poses and ages vary. Most are from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Some are from the Yuan dynasty. The few from the Jin dynasty are now quite rare.
At each end of the bridge stand ornamental columns and a white marble stele. One stele records the Kangxi Emperor’s reconstruction in 1698. The other has calligraphy by the Qianlong Emperor. It reads “Morning moon over Lugou”. For 800 years this bridge has been a famous scenic spot in Beijing.
The Marco Polo Bridge is an architectural masterpiece. It’s made of granite. It features a large central arch flanked by ten smaller ones. Triangular iron pillars protect the piers from flood and ice damage.
So as you stand here consider the Marco Polo Bridge. It is more than just stone and arches. It’s a symbol of history art and resilience. It connects us to the past and inspires us for the future.