Marco Polo Bridge has both the new and old bridges. The old one is also known as Marco Polo Bridge, stretch over the Yongding River 15 kilometers to the southwest of Beijing, and is the most ancient in Beijing (Initially built in 1189 and repaired in 1444). It was later destroyed by flood and was rebuilt in 1698.
The bridge stretches 266.5 meters long with a width of 7.5 meters. There are 11 arched culverts. The bridge is flanked by panels with each side having 140 posts. The top are carved with a total of 501 crouching lions big and small, all vivid and lifelike in different postures. In the tablet tower by the eastern end of the bridge stood a white-marble tablet with the inscription 'Dawning Moonlight over Marco Polo River "
Marco Polo, the great Italian traveler, eulogizes the "the bridge is the best and unique in the world"Not far away to the east of the bridge is the Wanping City, which was built in 1638. On 7 July 1937, the Japanese imperialists launched aggressive war against China. The Chinese army stationed here defended the city and the land. The Memorial Hall of the Chinese People's Anti-Japanese War was built near the bridge.
A new Marco Polo Bridge was built one kilometer from the old one in 1971 to protect the famous bridge. This is seventeen arches over river Road Bridge; the bridge stretches 54.99 meters long with a width of 15.5meters



Name:Beijing Marco Polo Bridge (Lugou Qiao)
City:Beijing
Address:Fengtai District
Admission:CNY20
Hours: 08:30 am-05:00 pm
Tel: 0086-10-83895217

This article was posted on 2007-09-25
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