Huitong Bridge

Huitong bridge is located on the Nujiang River, which is the boundary between Shidian County and Longling County. In the east of the bridge, there is a big mountain like a knife, and in the west, there is a mountain of lamengsong, which rises into the sky. Between the mountains and valleys, the river beach is dangerous, known as the "natural moat".

If we say that Stilwell road was the only transportation lifeline between China and the outside world during the Anti Japanese War, Huitong bridge, the only road passage connecting the two sides of Nujiang River in western Yunnan, can be called the throat of Stilwell road. Huitong bridge is located 600 kilometers away from Yunnan Myanmar highway (China Section).

In 1942, the Japanese invaders invaded western Yunnan. On May 5, it shocked the world with a thrilling explosion. Its tragic "sacrifice" blocked the Japanese army in the West Bank of Nujiang River, and the territory to the east of Nujiang River was preserved, thus changing the whole pattern of Anti Japanese war in western Yunnan. The traffic of the bridge was cut off, and the enemy and our army confronted each other across the river for three years. Huitong bridge is famous for this.

Huitong bridge, built in the late Ming Dynasty, was originally a chain cable bridge. It is located 600 kilometers away from the Yunnan Myanmar highway (China Section), and is the only channel connecting the two sides of the Nujiang River. In the 25th year of the Republic of China, Mr. Liang Jinshan, a Singaporean overseas Chinese, generously donated money to rebuild the old bridge into a new flexible steel cable suspension bridge. With a total length of 205 meters and a span of 190 meters, the suspension bridge is made up of 17 giant German steel cables, with a maximum load of 7 tons. In 1977, the new steel reinforced concrete bridge was completed and opened to traffic, and the suspension bridge began to be abandoned.

Huitong Bridge

Huitong bridge, built in the late Ming Dynasty, was originally a chain cable bridge. It is located 600 kilometers away from the Yunnan Myanmar highway (China Section), and is the only channel connecting the two sides of the Nujiang River. In the 25th year of the Republic of China, Mr. Liang Jinshan, a Singaporean overseas Chinese, generously donated money to rebuild the old bridge into a new flexible steel cable suspension bridge. With a total length of 205 meters and a span of 190 meters, the suspension bridge is made up of 17 giant German steel cables, with a maximum load of 7 tons. In 1977, the new steel reinforced concrete bridge was completed and opened to traffic, and the suspension bridge began to be abandoned.

Brief introduction of ancient bridge

When the car is still driving down the cliff on the north side of Songshan Mountain, you will see that the Nujiang River is like a silver horse, reflecting the blue sky, winding south along the foot of the mountain on the east side of Lujiang dam, hiding in the hills at the end of the dam. When the car was driving near the river valley, it suddenly showed its feet and turned East at the same time. The road runs along the river, the hot wind blows on the face, and the branches and leaves of various tropical trees brush past. After about three or four kilometers, there are two bridges, one old and the other new, across the river, turning the dangerous natural moat into a thoroughfare.

The steel cable suspension bridge at the upstream is the Huitong bridge which was once famous in history. Although it is no longer in use, reinforced concrete bridge towers still stand on both sides of the bridge. The thick steel cables and hundreds of suspenders are still hanging in the air, casting a heavy historical atmosphere, which makes people look forward to it. The next one is Hongqi bridge, the longest steel concrete box section arch bridge in western Yunnan. The bridge is carved like jade, showing the majestic beauty of modern bridges. The two bridges are only 400 meters apart, but the historical contrast is very clear. In the rainy season, the river rises and overflows, the river is muddy and yellow, the torrent waves are twisting and pulling, and the rebellious momentum of Hongman makes people sigh. When we look at the two bridges, we will think of the great power and wisdom of conquering the Nujiang River, which not only overcame the natural danger of the river valley, but also made one bridge better than another. In winter and spring, the water falls on the beach, and the river is as clear as a mirror, incomparably quiet and gentle. The old and new bridges are reflected in the water, each with its own style. While conquering the Nujiang River, people are still painting and writing poems.

General situation

Huitong bridge is located on the Nujiang River, which is the boundary between Shidian County and Longling County. In the east of the bridge, there is a big mountain like a knife, and in the west, there is a mountain of lamengsong, which rises into the sky. Between the mountains and valleys, the river beach is dangerous, known as the "natural moat".

The bridge is built against the cliff, with a northeast southwest trend, suspended by two huge steel cables. The bridge has a total length of 123 meters, a deck width of 5.67 meters and a pier height of more than 30 meters. According to Yongchang Fu Zhi, this is the ancient post road "Laodukou" from Yongchang (today's Baoshan) to Mangbu (today's Mangshi) out of Myanmar. In 1836, the local chieftain line Rulun once proposed to build a chain suspension bridge at "Laodukou" to facilitate business travel, but it was later suspended due to chaos.

During the reign of Tongzhi and Guangxu (1873-1877 AD), a chain suspension bridge, named lameng bridge, was built with donations from local enthusiasts. Because the abutment is set too low, it often suffers from flood.

In 1928, Yang xingcang, the magistrate of Longling County, called together the gentry and senior officials to discuss how to change the Chinese style iron chain into the western style steel cable, and asked the British engineer wubran sukason to help design it, but he failed.

In 1931, Qiu Shilin (also known as Qiu Tianpei) took over the post of magistrate of Longling County in Suijiang. He invited Mr. Liang Jinshan, the president of overseas Chinese in Myanmar, to "give full support" and invited Lai Yuesheng, an Indian engineer, to lead the engineers to the site for guidance in the winter of 1933. At the beginning of the 24th year of the Republic of China (1935 A.D.), the western style cable suspension bridge was finally rebuilt and named Huitong bridge.

In 1942, the Japanese invaders invaded western Yunnan. In order to prevent the Japanese invaders from invading, the National Army guarding the bridge broke the bridge and stopped the Japanese invaders on the other side of the river. In order to ensure the safety of the southwest rear, it played an important role. Our army was set up along the river, and the enemy and our army confronted each other for three years. The Japanese invaders never crossed the Nujiang River.

In May 1944, the western Yunnan counter offensive began, and the bridge was restored, becoming the starting point of the Chinese Army's counter offensive and the wartime material transportation hub. Huitong bridge played an important role in the Anti Japanese war in western Yunnan, and will be forever in history.

Huitong bridge is an important material evidence for us to understand the development of transportation in western Yunnan in modern times, especially since the Anti Japanese war. On June 1, 1974, with the opening ceremony of Hongqi bridge 400 meters downstream of Huitong bridge, the use of Huitong bridge was stopped. The deck planks were removed, but the bridge tower and main cable structure were still reserved, waiting for the call from time to time.

Historical memory

But back in history, there was no bridge. If people want to cross the Nujiang River, they can only cross it by boat. Huitong bridge slightly on the wider side of the river, is the history of the "general ancient ferry.". It is said that Deng Zilong, a famous frontier general, crossed the river to return to Yaoguan in Shidian after he was defeated by the Burmese soldiers in Longling during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty. "Longling County annals" records: "before Daoguang of the Qing Dynasty, there was no bridge in lameng, and all the people came and went by rafts. The battle of Shuifu was provided by the King Kong Garden of Dapingzi and BaiHushan (both on the side of Shidian, originally belonging to Longling) It is the dream of the people of the past dynasties in western Yunnan to build a bridge across the river and turn the natural moat into a thoroughfare. In order to turn the dream into reality, they have experienced many failures and setbacks.

History of bridge construction

First bridge repair

The first bridge was built during the reign of Daoguang in the Qing Dynasty (1821-1850 A.D.), and Rulun, the chieftain line of Lujiang in Longling hall, was the first one. Shidun has come out of the water, because he did not ask the provincial government for instructions in advance, and later when he asked for support, he "stopped because he was fully responsible.".

Second bridge repair

The second bridge was built in 1889, when Li Ruliang "went to the province to report to Zhun" and "the governor Tang Cen and Fu Yuan Tan PI ordered Yongchang Longling hall to assist in the construction. If the money is not enough, it will be raised by the rehabilitation Bureau. " The next year, Qin Kezhen, a member of the Longling hall, proposed to donate money. He collected a thousand taels of silver and urged the gentry, businessmen and the people to contribute together. The bridge was completed in three years, but it was broken only a month later by the wind of the river. Although it was repaired, it was broken again in a few years.

The third bridge repair

The third time was in the 25th year of Guangxu (1900 AD). Longling hall Tongzhi Longwen once again vigorously organized donation, and got more than 4000 liang of silver The bridge is restored. "

The fourth bridge repair

The fourth time lasted 24 years from the initial preparation to the completion of the bridge. In 1911, Xu Yu, a Tongzhi of Longling hall in the second year of Xuantong reign of the Qing Dynasty, thought that "the earth drill is rough and brittle, and easy to break, not as good as the foreign drill (steel cable) for its proficiency and durability.". If you give back your advice, you will get a thousand taels of silver. In 1928, Yang xingcang, the head of Longling County, called on the "township elders" to discuss the renovation of the "once and for all western style flexible cable suspension bridge". And invited British engineer Wu bran, suka was born in Yunnan to plan. At the same time, the Yunnan provincial government raised funds in various ways, with a total of 10000 yuan. Two years later, Qiu Tianpei took over the post of county magistrate of Longling. With the support of Li yuexun, the provincial first frontier governor, he formed an 18 member Construction Committee to plan the construction of the bridge. After many requests, Mr. Liang Jinshan, President of Myanmar overseas Chinese Association, gave strong support. In the winter of 1933, several Indian and overseas Chinese technicians employed by Mr. Liang Jinshan in Myanmar went to Longling together. The cement, steel cables, iron parts and other materials used were purchased by Liang in Myanmar and transported to the construction site by horse and manpower. The new construction was carried out on the original chain bridge, and the original abutment was increased by 20 meters to avoid the flood peak. The front edge of the abutment on both sides is 80 meters apart. The pylon is a steel truss, 7.85 meters high, with four 28.75 mm steel ropes as the main cables, anchored in the rock walls on both sides. The suspenders are 20 mm round steel, two in one, 54 in total; the crossbeam is composed of channel steel with a height of 200 mm, and the deck of the longitudinal beam is made of wood, with a clear width of 4.35 meters, which can pass 7 load-bearing mules and horses (weighing about 2 tons) each time. This is the first steel cable suspension bridge in the history of Nujiang River. It passed on January 14, 1935 and cost 80000 silver yuan. Among them, Mr. Liang Jinshan contributed about two-thirds.

The fifth bridge repair

The fifth bridge was built at the end of 1937. In order to make the bridge match with the Yunnan Myanmar highway under urgent repair, it is rebuilt as a highway bridge with 10 load. The reconstruction project is completed by Guofu traffic section

Chinese PinYin : Hui Tong Qiao