The Falu Ridge Iron Bridge

The Falu Ridge Iron Bridge

The Falu Ridge Iron Bridge is a cultural heritage site protected by Hebei Province.

The Falu Ridge Iron Bridge is a railway bridge that was part of the Zhengtai Railway. In those days, narrow-gauge trains on the Zhengtai Railway crossed the Mian River via this bridge and passed through the Falu Ridge Tunnel heading east. The Falu Ridge Iron Bridge stands 7.5 meters high, 5.5 meters wide, and the bridge deck is 30 meters above the valley floor. After the completion of the Shitai Line, there were discussions about demolishing this bridge, but it was preserved because it was the only transportation route for the villagers of Falu Ridge.

The large iron bridge at Falu Ridge was built by the Paris-based company DAYDE & PILLE, using puddled iron technology popular in the 19th century—the same technique used for Vietnam’s Long Biên Railway Bridge and France’s Eiffel Tower.

On the Zhengtai Railway, the main role of the Falu Ridge Iron Bridge was to connect Shanxi and Hebei, facilitating the transport of coal from Shanxi. After the Japanese invasion and occupation of Hebei in 1937, in order to secure the Zhengtai Railway for shipping Shanxi coal to various ports, heavy military forces were stationed at the bridge, and seven watchtowers along with two bunkers were constructed nearby.

After 1943, the Zhengtai Railway was rerouted and trains started using Xionghou Bay instead. In 1947, after the Xionghou Bay Bridge was destroyed, this old railway line was temporarily put back into use. The tracks have long since been removed and replaced with a cement road surface. From its inauguration to the completion of the Shitai Line, the Zhengtai Railway operated for just over 50 years, making the Falu Ridge Iron Bridge a historical witness to its legacy.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Cultural Heritage Sites Protected by Hebei Province