Yalu River Broken Bridge

Yalu River Broken Bridge

The Yalu River Broken Bridge is a cultural relic protection unit of Dandong City, a classic red tourism attraction, a patriotic education base, and a national defense education base.

The Yalu River Broken Bridge was the first railway bridge over the Yalu River. It was surveyed and designed by the Japanese in 1905, construction began in August 1909, and it was completed and opened to traffic in October 1911. The bridge is 944.2 meters long, 11 meters wide, and has 12 spans. The fourth span from the Chinese side used an opening-and-closing beam that could rotate 90 degrees in parallel around the pier, facilitating the passage of large vessels. In April 1943, the Japanese invaders built a second railway bridge (now the Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge) less than 100 meters upstream from this one, and the first bridge was then converted into a highway bridge. During the Korean War in 1950, it was repeatedly bombed by U.S. aircraft, and the first Yalu River Bridge was completely destroyed. The remaining four spans on the Chinese side still stand proudly over the Yalu River, like a weather-beaten elder of history, bearing witness to nearly a century of China's past.

The Yalu River Broken Bridge is a bridge of national humiliation. In August 1909, the Japanese invaders, driven by war and plunder, began construction from the Sinuiju side in Korea while negotiating with the Qing government—a strategy of building as they negotiated. By April 1910, with more than half the project completed, Japan forced the Qing government to agree to the construction of the bridge on the Chinese side. The corrupt and incompetent Qing government, under Japanese pressure, had no choice but to consent. In October 1911, the bridge was completed and opened to traffic. The entire project employed over 500,000 laborers from China and Korea. The bridge greatly facilitated the Japanese imperialists' exploitation of China’s resources and territorial aggression. This bridge is a historical product of Japanese imperialism’s invasion of China, a vivid testament to the Qing government’s submission under foreign pressure, and a witness to the humiliating history of modern China.

The Yalu River Broken Bridge is also a bridge witnessing the Chinese people’s resistance against hegemonism. On June 25, 1950, the Korean War broke out. On October 19, 1950, Peng Dehuai was entrusted with a critical mission and led the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army to Korea. To cut off our supply lines, the U.S. invaders repeatedly bombed the Yalu River bridges. On November 8, the first Yalu River Bridge was severed in the middle, while the Chinese side remained intact, becoming the “Broken Bridge.” This was no mere coincidence but rooted in profound historical context. During the Korean War, when the U.S. military planned to destroy the Yalu River Bridge, the U.S. Congress passed a resolution, and President Truman issued orders to General MacArthur, strictly limiting his military actions to avoid provoking China and inviting greater “trouble.” Thus, the existence of the Yalu River “Broken Bridge” vividly demonstrates the significant role and standing that the newly established New China had already attained on the international stage.

In June 1993, the Yalu River Broken Bridge was developed for tourism, and in June 1994, it officially opened to visitors as a tourist attraction. In October 2000, former Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, State Councilor, and Minister of National Defense – General – inscribed the bridge’s name. In June 2001, it was named a “National Patriotic Education Demonstration Base” by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee. It is now a key attraction within the Yalu River National Scenic Area and the “National AAAA Tourist Zone.” Visitors to the bridge can learn about its history, the history of the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea, and the global history of bridges and engineering, while also enjoying the views of both the Chinese and North Korean riverbanks. It also serves to inspire patriotism and a sense of duty among Chinese citizens. In April 2004 and April 2007, the Yalu River Broken Bridge was successively named a “Liaoning Provincial National Defense Education Base” by the Provincial National Defense Education Committee and the provincial government.

Protected area: Within 16 meters southeast, 33 meters northeast, 9 meters southwest, and 11.5 meters northwest of the center of the land-based bridge abutment bunker.

Construction control zone: A primary construction control zone extends 22 meters southeast, 48 meters northeast, 45 meters southwest, and 45 meters northwest beyond the protected area.

Further reading:

· Sixth Batch of Liaoning Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units