Zhongsha Bridge

Zhongsha Bridge

The "Zhong" in Zhongsha Bridge stands for the Republic of China, while the "Sha" refers to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a then-diplomatic ally of the Republic of China. The bridge was named Zhongsha Bridge in recognition and commemoration of Saudi Arabia providing a zero-interest loan of thirty million US dollars to the Republic of China, which made the construction of the bridge possible. This bridge spans across Xizhou Township in Changhua County and Xiluo Town in Yunlin County, Taiwan, with a total length of 2,345 meters. It crosses the upper reaches of the Zhuoshui River, about 3 kilometers from the river source. Upon completion, it was once the longest bridge in Taiwan until it was surpassed in 2004 by the viaduct on the Formosa Freeway (approximately 25 kilometers long).

Construction of Zhongsha Bridge began in April 1976 and it was officially opened on October 31, 1978. It is an integral part of the National Freeway No. 1 and also represented one of the most challenging sections during the freeway’s construction. The bridge was designed using pre-stressed hollow piles and pre-stressed beams, making it not only visually impressive but also highly safe. After the 1999 Jiji Earthquake, seismic reinforcement work was carried out. In 2007, as part of the widening project of the National Freeway No. 1 between Yuanlin and Kaohsiung, the bridge was further expanded and upgraded, allowing visitors to drive over it more safely and freely.

Zhongsha Bridge

Must-visit reason: One of Taiwan's most famous bridges