The eleven arched marble Marco Polo Bridge is 16 km southwest of Beijing – about a one hour drive. It will take at most an hour to visit so it is usually combined with other destinations including the nearby Chinese People’s Anti-Japanese War Museum.Originally built in 1192, the bridge was washed away in a 17th century flood and was rebuilt by Emperor Kangxi (1662-1722).Explorer Marco Polo of Venice, Italy describes the bridge in his writing and it is assumed he visited it. Marco Polo lived from 1254-1324 and and spent 16 years in China (1278-1292). He worked for Kublai Khan several years and later served as Governor of Yangzhou. After his time in China he returned to Venice where he fought against the Genoese and was captured. While in prison he wrote “The Travels of Marco Polo” which told of his adventures. The book fired the imagination of all Medieval Europe.

History

Originally it was built in 1193, during the Jin Dynasty, and was reconstructed several times in the following dynasties.

It has its name because Marco Polo described it in his Travels. Logou Bridge is well-known not only for its long-standing, magnificence and sturdiness, but also due to its being a commemorate place in the Chinese people’ war against Japanese aggression. It was right here on July 7th, 1937, the Japanese imperialists launched the war of aggression and were dealt with a head-on blow by Chinese patriotic army-men and people. The incident was the prelude to the Resistance War against Japanese Aggression. Up to now, the city walls of the nearby Wanpin County, riddled with bullets fired by the Japanese aggressors, still stand there, as a witness to the history.

Historical records also inform us that the Lugou River was “violent and flowed extraordinarily rapidly.” With the post-1949 construction of the Guanting Reservoir upstream from the bridge, a multitude of trees were planted on the river banks and the formerly disposition was also tamed, no longer presenting he constant danger of floods. The Lugou River was also known as the Wuding (Lacking Stability) River, and despite the fact that Emperor Kangxi had the auspicious name Yongding (Eternal Stability) bestowed upon it, it was only after the founding of the People’s Republic that eh river truly became “eternally stable.” After seven centuries, however, the river water remains as swift as ever. Owing, however, to teh extraordinarily durable construction of the bridge’s foundation; the endless battering of the torrential current has left no mark on it.

Architecture

The marble bridge has eleven arches, and measures 266.5 meters long and 7.5 meters wide. Most fascinating is that every baluster is carved on top with a lion in different shape and expression.According to the survey in 1961 by the Beijing Cultural Relics Administration, there were 486 lions of various size in total: 281 bigger lions on top of the balusters plus 198 smaller lions on their bodies, apart from the two lions balancing on their heads the balustrades at the Bridge eastern end, 4 lions atop each of the four sculptured marble columns standing at the Bridge’s heads, and one lion discovered later in the sand under the Bridge . However, another survey conducted in 1983 resulted in the total number being 498. For the exact number of lions, please try to count yourself.

At the extremes of the bridge there are two stone stelae, one recording the history of the renovation work carried out in the reign of Emperor Kangxi (1662-1722), and the other bearing the inscription “The Moon over the Lugou Bridge at Dawn” in the handwriting of Emperor Qianlong.

Travel Tips

Address: On the Yongding River, Wanping, Fengtai District;
Opening Hours: 07:10 to 18:00
Entry ticket: 10 yuan (adult), 5 yuan (student);
Tel: 8610-83894614, 83892355