A Guide to Chinese Bridges

In a systematic and comprehensive historical survey of bridges in China, A Guide to Chinese Bridges features over 300 ancient bridges and nearly 1,000 modern bridges. On the one hand, the book presents the notable successes of the ancient Chinese; on the other hand, it reflects the rapid progress and brilliant achievements in bridge construction in the later half, especially in the last decade, of the 20th century.

The techniques employed in ancient Chinese bridges, especially the arch bridge represented by Zhaozhou (Anji) Bridge, have provided a foundation for the development of the modern Chinese arch bridge. This is exemplified by Chinese masterworks that match comparable record-breaking spans around the world such as Danhe Bridge in Shanxi Province (stone arch bridge), Wanxian Yangtze Bridge in Chongqing Municipality (reinforced concrete arch bridge) and Yajisha Zhujiang (Pearl River) Bridge in Guangdong Province (concrete-filled steel-pipe arch bridge). They share a heritage based in the creativity and development of ancient techniques in Chinese arch bridge construction.

While respecting its roots in ancient Chinese bridge construction and design, modem China has also made a point of employing the best construction techniques from other countries, something that helped bring many "rainbows" to the great land of China in the late 20th century. A series of continuous rigid-frame long-span bridges were constructed with prestressing techniques such as the Humen Bridge across the Pearl River in Humen, Guangdong Province. Nearly 100 cable-stayed bridges and suspension bridges, represented nationwide by the No.2 Nanjing Yangtse River Bridge and Jiangyin Yangtse River Bridge, adopted cable supporting techniques. These major projects combined both Chinese and new world technologies.

In the 21th century in China, more profound development can be expected as highway systems move toward a higher level. Some of the bridge projects in the new century blueprint that will span both river and sea include the Runyang Bridge in Jiangsu Province, Lupu Bridge in Shanghai, Donghai Bridge by the Yangtse River estuary, as well as Ngong Shuen Chau (Stonecutters Island) Bridge in Hong Kong, Sutong Bridge in Jiangsu Province, Kuahai (transmarine) Bridge in Hangzhou Bay in Zhejiang Province, Chongming Yuejiang Project in Shanghai and Lingtinyang Bay Project in Guangdong Province. The construction of these gigantic bridges will be a glorious undertaking for all Chinese involved in bridge construction.

Another challenge to Chinese bridge-building ingenuity will be in West China - a geographic area with high mountains and deep valleys, complex geological formations and some terrible weather conditions. Already in West China, we have constructed a new type of bridge such as the Jiangjiehe Bridge (truss composite arch bridge) and the Wujiang Bridge (a hybrid bridge combining suspension cable and stayed cable) in Guizhou Province. We believe that in the near future more bridges with more innovative construction - will come to the region with the implementation of the western development strategy.

A Guide to Chinese Bridges is an overview and summary of Chinese achievements in bridge design and construction up to and including the 20th century. In offering a complete history of Chincse bridges, the book illuminates the common heritage shared by the modem and ancient.

With expectations of a bright Future, Chinese involved in bridge design and construction at the dawn of the 21th century - valuing traditional Chinese techniques while absorbing new ideas from all over the world - stand ready to produce even more marvels.

Huang Zhendong

Minister of the Communications of the People's Republic of China