Xingshan Chuhan Railway Bridge Piers

Xingshan Chuhan Railway Bridge Piers

The Xingshan Chuhan Railway Bridge Piers are a cultural relic protection unit of Hubei Province.

Xingshan Chuhan Railway Bridge Piers

Located in Shuiyuesi Town, Xingshan County, these bridge piers are remnants from the construction of the Chuhan Railway during the late Qing Dynasty. They include the Banzhuiwo Railway Pier, SANGong Bridge, Xue Tangping Railway Pier, Qingshubao Railway Pier, and Baishiwankou Railway Pier. In 1903, the Qing government began planning the construction of the Chuhan Railway; in 1908, the Yichang Engineering Bureau of the Chuhan Railway Corporation was established, with Zhan Tianyou serving as the chief engineer; in December 1909, construction of the Chuhan Railway commenced. Following the Wuchang Uprising, all work on the railway was halted, leaving the piers abandoned. The Chuhan Railway was the largest project funded by foreign investment during the late Qing Dynasty. Due to events such as the “Railway Protection Movement” in Sichuan, construction was completely stopped just three years after it began. Troops from the Wuhan New Army were deployed to Sichuan to suppress the unrest, which contributed to the success of the Wuchang Uprising—the first revolt of the Xinhai Revolution. As such, this railway also served as one of the triggers of the Xinhai Revolution. The Chuhan Railway Bridge Piers are a testament to that period of history and serve as physical artifacts for studying the development of China’s railway history.

Source: Hubei Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Hubei Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units