China the Beautiful

[chinapage]

Another major new bridge crossing Yangtze River is to be open.

http://www.chinapage.com/bridge/yangzhou.html

This bridge is located at Yangzhou.

Publishers of Chinese atlases have a hard time keeping up
with all of the these new constructions.

There are some 100 bridges across the Yangzi River now. I
try to keep count, but am having a hard time.

When was a new major bridge of this size built in the U.S.?

[chinapage]

New Yangtze River Bridge Opens to Traffic

Runyang Bridge across the Yangtze River, linking the ancient cities of Yangzhou and Zhenjiang, both in east China's Jiangsu Province, opened to traffic Saturday.

The grand opening of the suspended bridge is the largest of its kind in China.

With an investment of 5.8 billion yuan (some US$700 million), the bridge measures 35.66 kilometers with its main span of 1,490 meters.

The bridge will improve the investment environment of north and central Jiangsu province and speed up its modernization process.

(Xinhua News Agency May 1, 2005)

The 35.66-kilometre Runyang Bridge, connecting Yangzhou with an expressway to Shanghai on the south bank, is expected to launch a new boom phase in Yangzhou, said Hong Jinhua, the city's deputy major.

It will take only three hours to drive to Shanghai, whereas local people had to rely on boats to ferry them across the river in past decades.



http://www.chinapage.com/bridge/yangzhou.html

[CHINAforEVER !]

Dear chinapage,

Can you or anyone else show some nice pictures of this very important newly-completed bridge over the Changjiang?


The completion of Runyang bridge marks another milestone in China's attempt to overcome the chasm at the lower reaches of Changjiang and integrate the country into a cohesive whole. Well done!

Thanks!

[chinapage]

Hi,

Initial photo of the Runyan Bridge is at

http://www.chinapage.com/bridge/yangzhou/runyanbridge.html

The main page for bridges is at

http://www.chinapage.com/bridge

I would appreciate news and photos from all readers.

[CHINAforEVER !]

Runyang bridge to help span the wealth gap
(chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2005-04-30 14:14

The Runyang Bridge linking Yangzhou and Zhenjiang, both of East China's Jiangsu Province, is inaugurated for traffic use April 30, 2005. [YZtoday]

Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), cuts ribbon for the opening of Runyang Bridge as local officials look on, April 30, 2005. [yztoday]

Wu Bangguo applauds to celebrate the grand opening of Runyang Bridge. [yztoday]

Locals put on traditional performances on the opening ceremony of Runyang Bridge. [yztoday.com]


A new bridge across the Yangtze River, linking the riverside cities Yangzhou and Zhenjiang in eastern Jiangsu Province, is inaugurated open by Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) today.

The 35.66-kilometre Runyang Bridge, connecting Yangzhou with an expressway to Shanghai on the south bank, is expected to launch a new boom phase in Yangzhou, said Hong Jinhua, the city's deputy major.

It will take only three hours to drive to Shanghai, whereas local people had to rely on boats to ferry them across the river in past decades.

There are also slip roads linking the bridge to expressways to Beijing and Nanjing, capital of the province.

"The bridge will bring historic changes to the transport structure of the city," Hong said.

The bridge, consisting of a suspended span 50 metres above the water, allows 50,000-ton cargo ships to pass underneath.

At present, there are about 60 bridges in operation across the Yangtze River.

Yangzhou, known for its elegant ancient gardens and balmy weather, was once a booming waterway hub along the Beijing-Hangzhou Canal in the late 19th century and early 20th century.

The new bridge and other infrastructure projects, could once again put the city at the transport centre of affluent Jiangsu Province.

Aside from a web of highways linking it with other cities in the province, the city managed to build a railway station last year with a non-stop luxury overnight train service to Beijing.

"Once the Runyang Bridge is completed there will be no obstacle to travelling in any direction from the city, and we'll have the chance to develop as much as Suzhou and Wuxi," said Li Jun, a Yangzhou citizen.

The city posted a per capita gross domestic product of around US$2,000 last year, compared to more than US$5,000 in Suzhou, which is an hour's drive west of Shanghai, and has attracted more foreign direct investment than any other city in the country each year.

"The Runyang Bridge will enable the city to shift from the era of the canal to the era of the Yangtze River," said Hong, adding that his city wants closer integration with the Shanghai economic rim.

Social and economic development in Yangzhou has accelerated in recent years, evidenced by the enhanced living standard for local people.

The city won the China Human Settlements and Environment Award from the Ministry of Construction at the end of last year.

Meanwhile, Yangzhou is planning to hold an international trade and tourism festival from April 18 to May 18 to celebrate the opening of the bridge and to stimulate trade, according to Hong.


http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-04/30/content_438939.htm


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[chinapage]

This is an important bridge, which crosses Yangtze River at
a very important location. It is half way between Nanjing and
Shanghai. See map

http://www.chinapage.com/map/jiangsu-zhengjiang.html

So it will provide a much needed crossing between the North
and the South.

Yangzhou is historically very famous and important in the
Chinese arts, painting, literature etc. Zhengjiang is relatively less
reknowned in the history books.

Ming

[CHINAforEVER !]

THE IMPORTANCE OF BRIDGES AT THE LOWER REACHES OF CHANGJIANG

I can see two positive and very important developments in Runyang Bridge.

One is the alleviation of transportation inconvenience between the two banks of Changjiang at Yangzhou and Zhenjiang cities. Two, the spread of economic development northward to Yangzhou and beyond, economic development which is currently concentrated in the south, the Jiangnan region with Shanghai acting as the dynamo.

Historically, too, Runyang is only the second bridge after Jiangyin Bridge (completed in 1999) to span the Changjiang from Nanjing to the sea. Considering the fact that Nanjing Changjiang Daqiao which opened on 23 December, 1968 was considered a justifiable and impressive engineering feat then, for before there was no direct rail link between Beijing and Shanghai; Runyang now holds the records as the longest suspension bridge in China and the third longest in the world, that is before Sutong Bridge (now under construction) linking the cities of Suzhou and Nantong further to the east takes over the title.

The modernization and growth of China’s infrastructure is something to be savored. More is yet to come!