Jianying Bridge

Jianying Bridge

Jianying Bridge is a concrete bridge located in Fenglin Township, Hualien County, Taiwan, spanning the Hualien River and connecting Darong Village and Shanxing Village. It is said that in the earliest days, the only connection between Darong Village and Shanxing Village was a makeshift bamboo footbridge, which was both inconvenient and dangerous to use.

In the early morning of October 6, 1977, after Typhoon Dana hit, the water level of the Hualien River rose sharply, washing away the bamboo footbridge. Chen Guoyi, the academic affairs director of Shanxing Elementary School (now closed), along with teachers Zhang Jian, Deng Yuying, and Lin Baoxuan, risked their lives to cross the river hand-in-hand in order to get to school. However, due to the rapid currents and the presence of mud and silt, many were swept away by the floodwaters. Among them, Zhang Jian and Deng Yuying tragically drowned. This incident gained widespread attention across Taiwan after being reported by the media. Then-Premier Chiang Ching-kuo was deeply moved and decided to build a concrete bridge at the site to resolve the local transportation issues. To honor the dedication and sacrifice of Teachers Zhang and Deng, the bridge was named "Jianying Bridge" — taking "Jian" from Zhang Jian and "Ying" from Deng Yuying. Their story was adapted into a film titled *Jianying Bridge* in 1985.

Jianying Bridge is not only famous for its touching story but also boasts beautiful scenery. At one end of the bridge lies Jianying Park, which features memorial bronze statues and stone tablets of Zhang Jian and Deng Yuying. Every year, large groups of students and teachers visit to pay their respects and honor their memory.

Jianying Bridge

Must-visit reason: Taiwan’s most moving concrete bridge