Liberation of Tianjin Meeting Memorial Site (Jintang Bridge)

Liberation of Tianjin Meeting Memorial Site (Jintang Bridge)

The Liberation of Tianjin Meeting Memorial Site (Jintang Bridge) serves as a patriotic education base.

Jintang Bridge spans the Haihe River between the western end of Jianguo Road and Shuige Street. Constructed in 1906 (the 32nd year of the Guangxu reign) through a joint investment by the Tianjin Customs Authority, the consulates of the Austrian and Italian concessions, and the Belgian Tianjin Tram and Electric Light Company, the bridge’s name, Jintang, means “as solid as gold and unyielding as a fortress.” During the Pingjin Campaign launched by the People's Liberation Army in 1948, on the early morning of January 15, 1949, the main assault forces from the east and west successfully met at Jintang Bridge, marking the liberation of Tianjin. Since then, the bridge has become an iconic structure symbolizing the liberation of Tianjin and a site for people to honor the martyrs who sacrificed their lives during the battle. In 1994, it was designated as a Tianjin Patriotic Education Base by the municipal Party committee and government.

On January 2, 1949, the Tianjin Front Command of the Northeast Field Army held a military meeting. Based on the terrain around Jintang Bridge and the defensive arrangements of the enemy, Commander Liu Yalou devised the operational strategy: “advance from the east and west, cut through the middle, take the south before the north, divide before encircling, and defeat the enemy in detail.” The meeting point for the converging forces from the east and west was the area along the upstream and downstream sections of the Haihe River centered on Jintang Bridge. At 10:00 AM on January 14, 1949, the People's Liberation Army launched a general offensive against the Nationalist defenders from the east, west, and south, commencing the Battle of Tianjin. After intense fighting and breaching the outer defenses, at 5:30 AM on January 15, the PLA forces advancing from the east and west met at Jintang Bridge. Bright red flags were planted on the bridge, achieving the operational goal of “cutting through the middle,” which severed the north-south connection of the Nationalist forces, disrupted their battle plans, and severely shook their morale. The successful meeting of the PLA at Jintang Bridge became the key to annihilating the defending forces, and the bridge thus marked the rebirth of Tianjin.

After enduring a century of weathering, parts of Jintang Bridge had severely corroded and deteriorated. In 2003, in line with the overall requirements of the Haihe River comprehensive development project, the bridge was reinforced, upgraded, and restored to its original design while also regaining its opening mechanism. To commemorate the liberation of Tianjin, parks were built on both the east and west banks of the Haihe River, centered around Jintang Bridge. The pathways in the parks radiate outward toward the bridge, symbolizing the “meeting.” The green spaces on both sides of the Meeting Park spread out from the bridgehead as their focal point. Each park features a group sculpture depicting the troops of the Northeast and North China PLA, serving as the central landscape feature. Additionally, life-sized realistic stainless steel sculptures of PLA soldiers have been placed in the parks. These sculptures blend naturally with the surroundings, vividly recreating the scene of the historic meeting.

Address of the Liberation of Tianjin Meeting Memorial Site (Jintang Bridge): Between the western end of Jianguo Road and Shuige Street, Hebei District. Open all day, free admission.