Twin Bridges in Misty Rain

Twin Bridges in Misty Rain

The Twin Bridges refer to the Pearl River Bridges near Pantang in the western suburbs. The Pearl River Bridges derive their name from spanning the Pearl River. They straddle the eastern and western branches of the Pearl River between Pantang and Datansha Jiao, divided into an east bridge and a west bridge, hence the name "Twin Bridges." This area serves as a vital transportation route connecting Guangzhou to its western and southern parts. In the past, people crossed the bridge by boat, often moved by the melancholy scene described as “misty river waves stir up sorrow.” The Pearl River Bridges are the site of one of Guangzhou’s Eight Scenic Spots, “Twin Bridges in Misty Rain.”

The two bridges are 1.5 kilometers apart. The east bridge consists of nine steel trusses and reinforced concrete piers and beams, with a total length of 336.15 meters and a designed navigable clearance height of 8.5 meters. The west bridge is made up of ten steel trusses and reinforced concrete piers and beams, stretching 415.54 meters in length with a designed navigable clearance height of 6 meters. The bridges are 23 meters wide, with a double-track railway in the middle (which was once converted from a single-track railway to a roadway), flanked by vehicle lanes (4.5 meters each) and sidewalks (1.3 meters each). The bridge was constructed in 1957 and officially commenced full-scale construction on October 19, 1958. The main bridge project was completed on June 15, 1960, and the bridge officially opened to traffic on October 1, 1960.