Consider Shanghai’s Waibaidu Bridge. It is more than steel and rivets. It’s a silent witness to Shanghai’s tumultuous past. This bridge connects not just districts but also eras. Today, we’re standing before the Waibaidu Bridge. It is an iconic structure that has seen Shanghai transform from a treaty port to a global metropolis.
The Waibaidu Bridge stands near the confluence of the Suzhou Creek and the Huangpu River. This location has been a vital crossing point for centuries. Before the bridge, people used ferries to cross the Suzhou Creek. As Shanghai grew into an international trade hub in the 1840s, the need for a bridge became apparent.
The first foreign bridge at this location was Wills’ Bridge built in 1856. It was a wooden structure funded by a British businessman named Charles Wills. He charged a toll for crossing it. This toll caused outrage among the local Chinese population. They felt it was discriminatory because foreigners could pay on credit.
In 1873, the Shanghai Municipal Council built a new wooden floating bridge and bought out Wills’ Bridge. The new bridge was toll-free. It was named Waibaidu. In Shanghainese, Waibaidu means “outer free crossing”.
The current steel Waibaidu Bridge was constructed in 1907 and opened in 1908. It was designed by a British firm and built with steel imported from England. The Waibaidu Bridge was the first all-steel bridge in China. It became a symbol of Shanghai.
Its camelback truss design is unique. It is the only surviving example of this bridge type in China. The Waibaidu Bridge has a total length of 104.9 meters and a width of 18.4 meters.
Throughout the 20th century, the Waibaidu Bridge played a significant role in Shanghai’s history. During the First Shanghai Incident in 1932, thousands of refugees crossed the bridge seeking safety in the International Settlement. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, it marked the boundary between the International Settlement and Japanese-occupied territory.
Japanese soldiers guarded the Waibaidu Bridge. They forced foreigners to bow as a sign of respect. Many Chinese people were humiliated and punished by the soldiers. The Waibaidu Bridge became known as the “Bridge of Sighs” because of the suffering people experienced there.
After World War II, the Waibaidu Bridge underwent several repairs and renovations. In 2008, it was dismantled and moved to a shipyard for a major restoration. The restoration involved replacing thousands of rivets and strengthening the structure.
The Waibaidu Bridge reopened in 2009. It has an LED lighting system that makes it more attractive at night. The Waibaidu Bridge has been featured in numerous films and novels. It is a popular symbol of Shanghai.
Standing here today we can appreciate the Waibaidu Bridge as both a structure and symbol. The Waibaidu Bridge embodies resilience. It connects Shanghai’s past, present, and future.