The First Bridge over the Yellow River, the Zhongshan Iron Bridge in Lanzhou

The Zhongshan Bridge in Lanzhou, also known as the 'Yellow River Iron Bridge', is a landmark of Lanzhou City and one of the most important bridges over the Yellow River. Spanning the wide Yellow River, it connects the north and south banks of Lanzhou, witnessing the vicissitudes of the city. Designed by an American bridge company and constructed by the German company Tai Lai Foreign Firm, it was opened to traffic in the first year of Xuantong in the Qing Dynasty (1909). In 1928, to commemorate Mr. Sun Yat-sen, the 'Yellow River Iron Bridge' was renamed 'Zhongshan Bridge'. The Zhongshan Bridge is known as the 'First Bridge over the Yellow River' and is a key national cultural relic protection unit. The construction of the Zhongshan Bridge officially began on May 9, 1908. The bridge was completed and opened to traffic on August 19, 1909. The original structure did not have the arched steel frame on top, which was added in 1954 to make the bridge more beautiful and sturdy. The Zhongshan Iron Bridge is 233.5 meters long and 8.36 meters wide in total, with the Baita Mountain on the north side and Zhongshan Road on the south side. To better protect this old bridge, motor vehicle traffic has been prohibited since 2013. The Zhongshan Bridge has four piers and five spans, with each span being 45.9 meters. The upper structure is a trapezoidal through-type steel truss, and each span is a statically indeterminate structure forming a truss system, with vertical steel frames divided into five rectangles, plus diagonal bracing members, forming a clear and rhythmic facade. The Zhongshan Iron Bridge consists of an upper structure (the bridge body) and a lower structure (the bridge piers). The Yellow River Iron Bridge in Lanzhou is 233.5 meters long and 8.36 meters wide, with a 6-meter-wide roadway and 1-meter-wide pedestrian walkways on both sides. The Zhongshan Bridge, with its simple and firm aesthetic, stands quietly on the banks of the Yellow River like a warrior in plain clothes. It is not a treasure of traditional Chinese architecture, but a modern symphony composed of new materials, new structures, new technologies, and new processes. Every steel beam and every stone embodies advanced construction and management wisdom. Here, the spatial structure is not just a bridge but a symbol of the spirit of the industrial age, a crystallization of human intelligence and courage. The lower structure of the Yellow River Iron Bridge in Lanzhou consists of 2 bridge abutments and 4 piers, excavated to the rock layer. The materials of the piers and abutments are different; the south abutment is built of strip stones, while the north abutment is made of concrete. The upper part of the first pier on the south side is mortar-laid strip stones, and the lower part is concrete. The upper parts of the remaining three piers are concrete, and the lower parts are mortar-laid rubble. From 2010 to 2011, the tops of the piers were cast in concrete to raise them by 1.2 meters. The bridge body of the Yellow River Iron Bridge was originally a through-type steel truss with a total of 5 spans, each with a span of 45.9 meters and a total length of 233.5 meters; each span consists of 2 trusses, totaling 10 trusses; each truss has 9 sections, each section being 5.1 meters. The truss crossbeams are steel beams, and the railings are welded from angle iron and steel pipes. The bridge body consists of five arched steel frame arches, and the bridge deck is made of iron plates. The Zhongshan Bridge has now become a dazzling pearl of Lanzhou City. When night falls, the lights on the bridge twinkle like stars, brilliant and dazzling, as if draping the ancient city in a modern halo. It stands quietly over the Yellow River, witnessing the passage of time and the changes of the era, yet still maintaining its unique charm. Here, the ancient and modern intertwine, and tradition and innovation merge. With its unique charm, the Zhongshan Bridge attracts countless eyes and has become an indispensable famous attraction in Lanzhou City. Whether day or night, it quietly guards the city, witnessing its prosperity and changes.