Travelogue
Travel Information
Crossing Bridges
Written by Nathaniel Tan - September 11, 2019
Embark on a journey with Russell Lee to uncover the beauty of bridges in Wuhan.
By Russell Lee - September 16, 2019
did not expect Wuhan, the underrated city of China, to have extravagant bridges of its own until a conspicuous, vibrant red-
coloured bridge caught my attention during a taxi ride back to my area of residence. This made me ardent on wanting to explore as many bridges I can during my stay in Wuhan.
A total of 12 bridges in the Hubei province, the Wuhan First Yangtze River Bridge is one of the most renowned bridges in China.
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The first bridge I visited was the Wuhan YingWuZhou Bridge. One of my biggest dreams is to visit the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and with such a huge similarity to the architecture and colour of this bridge, it seemed as though I can check it off my bucket list.
What makes this bridge so admirable is its striking red colour. The bridge displayed a stark contrast between old and new, providing a sense of nostalgia along with a glimpse into the future at the same time. I was certainly in awe of the architectural brilliance of this bridge.
As I was taking in the tranquil and serene ambience of the area, I caught sight of the Wuhan Yangtze Great bridge from a distance and decided to take a stroll towards it. En route to the bridge, I discovered that the park was bustling with activities such as couples dancing and families enjoying a night out.
The 3.08-billion-yuan Wuhan YingWuZhou Bridge (武汉鹦鹉洲长江大桥), also known as the “Parrot Island” bridge, is one of the longest suspension bridges in the world, spanning 850 meters across the Yangtze River.
My friends and I have been coming here very often for years to swim and relax.
Doing all these under such a beautiful bridge with the sun setting, who can ever get sick of it?
- Mr Lee
After a therapeutic 20 minutes stroll through the park, I finally reached the Wuhan Yangtze Great Bridge. This icon of Wuhan is certainly one of its kind, boasting a double-decked road and rail bridge connecting the Wuchang and Hanyang districts of Wuhan. Bewilderment was the only word to describe what I was feeling as I looked up at the railway and road combination, a sight that I have not witnessed in my life before.
Since it was already quite late into the evening, I decided to return to this bridge in the day in hopes of capturing the other activities the locals engage in.
In contrast to the nightlife of this location, the bridge is filled with life and energy. It’s evident that the bridge is a popular go-to spot among the older generation.
“My friends and I have been coming here very often for years to swim and relax. Doing all these under such a beautiful bridge with the sun setting, who can ever get sick of it?” Mr Lee, a local who was swimming in the Yangtze River said.
From the ongoing chatter by the banks of the Yangtze river to passionate dancing, youthful singing, and bustling street vendors, I felt a sense of accomplishment for being able to capture the essence and character of a bridge that encompasses so much history.
To get to my next destination, the Qingchuan Bridge (晴川桥), I took a ferry from the ferry terminal minutes-walk away from the Wuhan Yangtze River Great Bridge. As soon as I alighted, I was greeted with a wave of an unpleasant stench. Surprisingly, it did not bother me as soon as I caught sight of the plethora of happenings in the area.
The hustle and bustle of the boat merchants exchanging and selling ingredients with the locals under the setting sun really made me appreciate the foreign culture that we wouldn’t be able to experience back in Singapore.
The Qingchuan Bridge, also known as the “Rainbow Bridge” due to its shape and red colour. It is the fourth bridge on the Han River with a span of 280 meters with a full length of 989.75 meters.
It was a truly fascinating experience to visit these bridges of Wuhan. Many are unable to appreciate bridges, thinking that they are just merely structures built for transport. However, from their rich history to their architectural brilliance, there’s so much more that I wish people can appreciate them for.
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