Zhongshan Bridge
The Zhongshan Bridge (Chinese中山 桥or中山 铁桥, Zhongshan Iron Bridge ) in Lanzhou, also known by the Chinese, " the first bridge over the Yellow River under the heaven ", is now regarded as a cultural monument. It was named after Sun Yat-sen, using his well-known in China epithet " Zhongshan ".
Prehistory
For centuries, only on a pontoon bridge was the crossing of the Yellow River in Lanzhou City, trading center on the Silk Road, one of the main trade routes of China, possible. This was often damaged during floods and had to be dismantled because of ice conditions every winter. This often meant days or even weeks of waiting on the banks of the river.
As part of the " self- strengthening movement " or " Verwestlichungsbewegung " whose goal was a modernization of the Empire of China on the Western model and far mainly of officials of the imperial court was operated since the mid-19th century, it came to the construction of the first " iron bridge over the Yellow River "or the " first permanent bridge over the Yellow River ", the two most commonly used name.
It was the Mayor of Lanzhou City, Peng Yingjia, who was, at the same time the chairman of the " Gansuer offices for agriculture, industry, commerce and mining " (甘肃 农工商 矿 总局Gansu nónggōngshāng Kuang zǒngjú ) who pushed the plan, a stable iron bridge to build on the Yellow River.
With the help of the governor Sheng Yun, who was in charge of Shaanxi, Gansu and Xinjiang, and the Empress Dowager Cixi familiar, it was possible to get approved against the intrigues and the resistance of individual officials and Confucian zealots, state funds for the construction of the bridge.
Realization
On October 10, 1906, the German, resident at that time in Tianjin Trading Company telco & Schroeter signed [ with Chinese name " Tailai Yanghang " ] and Peng Yingjia a contract for the supply of the bridge parts and other necessary materials for the construction. After much hesitation, a young American engineer was engaged with the Chinese name " Man Baoben " which took over the management of bridge site and then remained even until the end of his life in Lanzhou, in order to ensure the technical maintenance of the bridge. In June 1907, the first prefabricated in Germany Items arrived in the port of Tianjin and 1700 km were then transported overland to Lanzhou, of which only 480 km by rail, the rest with sidecars and pack animals. It took 19 months until all the material was brought to Lanzhou. Construction began in the spring of 1907 and lasted until July 1909.
" The bridge consisted of five boxes with rectangular cross section, which were signed on four pillars and the respective banks. The boxes were a stand truss with parallel chords, cross beams and final quest. A box had 7 trusses whose aspirations were arranged to fall to the center and in the middle framework formed a cross. In accordance with U.S. nomenclature a classic " Pratt Truss Bridge". All iron parts were held together by rivets. The deck is made of wood planks. The brick stone piers and embankments are reinforced with steel on concrete piles. "
For the 233 m long bridge according to contract a service life of 80 years was guaranteed. The planned cost of 165 000 taels of silver had almost doubled by the end of construction - 306 600 taels of silver - increased.
Special Events
Although the bridge experienced several major floods and withstood them, but they had to be repeatedly repaired and rebuilt. In 1919 it was closed due to the effects of war for 11 days -long repair time. 1942 was the bridge in honor of the founder of the People's Republic of China, Sun Yat-sen, the name " Zhongshan Bridge ," which she still carries today. After taking Lanzhou by the People's Liberation Army on 26 August 1949, the bridge had to be freed from war damage again. On September 6, the bridge was reopened to traffic.
"Over the past 40 years, the traffic had increased tremendously over the bridge. When planning the bridge an increasing motor vehicle traffic was not yet in sight. To set the bridge on the individual timber boxes were covered and reinforced with sheets of iron also riveted truss. This is the reason that the bridge now looks like an arch bridge at first sight. "
The load capacity of the bridge is increased to 10 times of the original value of this measure. In 1990, the two 1.20 m wide footpaths that were still inside the box were to create more space for car traffic, widened to 2.10 m and largely shifted to the outside of the box. In October 2004, the city government decided to block the bridge for vehicular traffic and only open the Fußgangerverkehr, but above all to maintain the bridge as a monument. In order to reduce barriers to the vessel traffic, the bridge in 2010 was increased by 1.20 m. Since June 2011 she has also reopened to car traffic.
Zhongshan Bridge ( 2009)
Zhongshan Bridge ( 2009)
Zhongshan Bridge ( 2009)
Today's meaning
" The bridge today is not only a technical monument that recalls that it ever was the first permanent bridge across the Yellow River, but also a monument to the first efforts to open up policy of China, but only in the 80s of the last century could be a reality. " reminds a plaque that built the city administration of Lanzhou occasion of the first silk Road festival 1992 at the south end of the bridge.