Luding Bridge

Overview
Luding Bridge locates over the Dadu River in the west of Sichuan Province, China, and was built during the Qing Dynasty. At that time, the trade exchange between the Tibetan people the Chinese people was fairly frequent, and had considerable amount. The goods wholly depended on transfer by ferryboats or zip lines. Often times the goods failed to be transferred in time, there were always goods piling up like mountains on both banks of the Dadu River and some fresh food went rotted due to the delay. 

History & Background
In 1705 A.D., to strengthen the unity of the nations and to solve the obstruction on the path of economic and cultural exchange between the Tibetan people and Chinese people, Emperor Kangxi issued the command of building the first bridge over the Dadu River. After one year of construction, the bridge was completed in 1706 A.D. The Emperor Kangxi himself wrote ‘Luding Bridge’ for it, and founded an imperial stele at one end of the bridge. Since then, the Luding Bridge has become the bond of transportation that connects the Tibetan and the Chinese, therefore Luding County was named consequently.

Luding Bridge is 103 meters in length, 3 meters in width, and is fixed onto the bridge abutment wells of both sides by 13 iron chains, nine of which are served as bottom chains and are covered by wood boards to serve as the floor of the bridge. Besides, the other 4 chains are served as handrails with 2 chains on each side. These two chains are bridge railings and are made up of 12164 iron rings buckling up with each other. The weight of all iron parts of this bridge is more than 40 tons. The bridgehead towers on both sides are ancient wood architectures and their special style and features are unique domestically. 

Since Qing Dynasty, this bridge had been significant passageway and military key locations for accessing Tibet through Sichuan. On May 29, 1935, the Red Amy passed it during the Long March. The commando, led by 22 warriors, crawled forward along the iron chains under the Enemy’s gunfire and cleared up the bridge guards at one stroke. In 1935, the Red Army dashed through the Luding Bridge during the Long March, and made this place a significant historical monument of China Communist Party. In 1961, Luding Bridge became one of the first batches of China’s Key Preservation Site of Cultural Relics, announced by the State Council of People’s Republic of China.

Structure
Luding Bridge tour spot consists three parts: One is Luding Bridge. The second is Revolutionary Heritage Museum of Luding Bridge, as the pictures, files and objects exhibited in this museum present the Red Army’s forced crossing of the Dadu River and dashing through the Luding Bridge, etc. Another is Monument of Red Army’s Dashing Through Luding Bridge and its park, the name of the monument inscribed by DENG Xiaoping, the monument inscription written by NIE Rongzhen and the monument and its park. They are uniquely designed and have successfully integrated the monumental purpose, local customs and sightseeing together.

Information
Location: West of Bridge Square, Luding County, Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan ProvinceTicket Price: CNY10 per person
Opening time: 08:00-18:00
Time for visiting: half an hour