Xinhua Media丨See the beautiful China through ancient and modern bridges

China's bridges are in various shapes and colors. From ancient times to the present, they are like rainbows, spanning the land of China, creating a splendid culture and brilliant achievements. Ancient bridges are like poems, with stone arch bridges and wooden beam bridges telling a thousand-year history; modern bridges are like paintings, crossing rivers and seas, and are magnificent. From the quaint Zhaozhou Bridge to the majestic Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the beauty of Chinese bridges shines through the past and the present, building a beautiful China together.

Bridges connect the two sides of the Taiwan Strait and the four directions, witnessing China's development and progress. Each bridge is a mark of the times and a manifestation of the Chinese craftsman spirit.

↑This is a photo of Wuhan Tianxingzhou Yangtze River Bridge taken on December 26, 2009. On that day, Wuhan Tianxingzhou Yangtze River Bridge was officially opened to traffic. The main span of the bridge is 504 meters and the total length is 4,657 meters. Photo by reporter Hao Tong

↑This is the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge in the morning light taken on December 15, 2023. The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge was officially opened in 2018. The bridge connects Hong Kong in the east and Zhuhai and Macao in the west, with a total length of 55 kilometers. Photo by reporter Liu Dawei

↑This is a photo of tourists visiting Anping Bridge, an ancient stone bridge in Jinjiang, Quanzhou, Fujian, on July 8, 2021. Anping Bridge is located between Jinjiang and Nan'an in Fujian. It is a cross-sea beam stone bridge built in 1138. It is also called Wuli Bridge because of its length. It is more than 2,000 meters long and has more than 300 piers. Its length was unparalleled in the world in the mid-12th century, and there was a saying that "there is no bridge longer than this one in the world." Photo by reporter Jiang Kehong

↑This is the Marco Polo Bridge photographed on July 7, 2020. Located in Fengtai District, Beijing, the Marco Polo Bridge is 266.5 meters long and was built in 1189. There are hundreds of stone lions carved on the stone railings on both sides. On July 7, 1937, the "Marco Polo Bridge Incident" broke out, and the Chinese anti-Japanese army fired the first shot of the full-scale war of resistance here. Photo by reporter Zhang Chenlin

↑This is a photo of tourists visiting the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge on July 8, 2022. The Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge, which opened to the public in 2016, is 430 meters long and 6 meters wide. It is about 300 meters above the valley floor and the bridge deck is paved with 99 pieces of fully transparent glass. Photo by reporter Zhao Zhongzhi

↑This is the Quanzhou Luoyang Bridge photographed on November 19, 2023. Luoyang Bridge is located on the Luoyang River in the northeast of Quanzhou City, Fujian Province. Originally named "Wan'an Bridge", it was built between the fifth year of Huangyou and the fourth year of Jiayou in the Northern Song Dynasty. It is the earliest existing large stone bridge with a cross-sea beam in my country, representing China's advanced bridge-building technology at that time. Photo by reporter Jiang Kehong

↑This is the Beipanjiang Bridge on the Hangrui Expressway at the border of Guizhou and Yunnan, photographed on August 15, 2023. The Beipanjiang Bridge, which opened to traffic in December 2016, connects Yunnan and Guizhou, which are separated by a canyon, with a vertical height of 565 meters. Photo by reporter Tao Liang

↑This is the Pingtan Strait Railway Bridge connecting the Fuyin Expressway taken on April 29, 2020. The Pingtan Strait Railway Bridge was put into operation in 2020. Photo by reporter Jiang Kehong

↑This is the Shanghai-Suzhou-Nantong Yangtze River Highway-Rail Bridge photographed in Nantong, Jiangsu on February 16, 2024. The Shanghai-Suzhou-Nantong Yangtze River Highway-Rail Bridge was officially opened on July 1, 2020. The bridge is a "three-in-one" river crossing channel that combines expressways, mixed passenger and freight railways, and high-speed railways.

↑This is a photo of the Guangji Bridge under restoration taken on June 12, 2007. Guangji Bridge is located outside the east gate of Chaozhou Ancient City, spanning the Han River. It was built in the 7th year of Qiandao in the Southern Song Dynasty. It is 518 meters long and is one of the four ancient bridges in China, along with Zhaozhou Bridge, Luoyang Bridge and Lugou Bridge. It is known as "the earliest opening and closing bridge in the world."

↑This is a photo of the Wuhan Yangsigang Yangtze River Bridge taken on October 8, 2019. In 2019, the Wuhan Yangsigang Yangtze River Bridge was opened to traffic. The bridge is 4.13 kilometers long and has a main span of 1,700 meters. Photo by reporter Xiong Qi

↑This is a photo of tourists visiting Zhaozhou Bridge on April 25, 2024. Zhaozhou Bridge is located on the Xiaohe River in Zhao County, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province. It is 64.4 meters long and was built in the Sui Dynasty. It has a history of more than 1,400 years. It is the world's earliest and largest single-hole circular arc open-shoulder stone arch bridge. It is known as one of the four ancient bridges in China, along with the Guangji Bridge in Chaozhou, Guangdong, the Luoyang Bridge in Quanzhou, Fujian, and the Lugou Bridge in Beijing. Photo by reporter Wang Yuguo

↑On June 15, 2024, the super "loop line" train passed through the Nanjing Dashengguan Yangtze River Bridge. The Nanjing Dashengguan Yangtze River Bridge on the Beijing-Shanghai High-speed Railway was completed and opened to traffic in 2011.

↑This is the night view of Chongqing Chaotianmen Yangtze River Bridge taken on February 1, 2016. Chongqing Chaotianmen Yangtze River Bridge was opened to traffic in April 2009, with a main span of 552 meters. Photo by reporter Chen Cheng