Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge

Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge was completed in 1968, and is uniquely Chinese in style and on the sides of the top deck there are statues of soldiers involved in the crossing of the river. It is one of the greatest achievements of the Communist Party and a great source of pride. The bridge was completely designed and built by the Chinese after the Russians withdrew support and took away the design plans in 1960. It is the second bridge ever to span the Yangtze River. This 1.5km (1 mile) double-decker bridge for cars and trains is one of the longest in China. A highway bridge on the upper floor is 4,589 meters (about 3 miles) long, 15 meters (about 16 yards) wide. Four big autos can run shoulder by shoulder on this highway. In addition there is a more than 2-mete (about 2 yards) wide footway on both sides of the highway. A railway bridge on the lower floor is 6,772 meters (about 4 miles) long, 14 meters (about 15 yards) wide. This railway is double-tracked, which means that two trains can run to the opposite directions at the same time. There are 200 cast iron embossments on the balusters on each side of main bridge of the highway bridge. 150 pairs of elegant and purely white magnolia-flower-shape street lamps stand side by side. Every time when nightfall comes, those street lamps will be bright at the same time. The mighty bridge becomes the Milky Way in the earth.

Visitors can access the bridge from the Great Bridge Park to the north of Zhongshan Bei Lu. There are elevators taking tourists up to the decks which afford a great view not just of the murky and gargantuan river, but also of the bridge's structure and architecture.