Zhongsha Bridge

　　The “Zhong” in Zhongsha Bridge stands for the Republic of China, while the “Sha” refers to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a diplomatic ally of the Republic of China at the time. Due to Saudi Arabia providing a zero-interest loan of thirty million US dollars to the Republic of China, making the construction of this bridge possible, it was named Zhongsha Bridge upon completion as a commemoration. The bridge spans across Xizhou Township in Changhua County and Siluo Town in Yunlin County in Taiwan, with a total length of 2,345 meters. It crosses the upper reaches of the Zhuoshui River, about 3 kilometers from its source. Upon its 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 part of the National Freeway No. 1 and also the most challenging section during the construction of that freeway. The bridge utilizes a design of pre-stressed hollow piles and pre-stressed beams, which not only makes it visually striking and durable but also gives it a high safety factor. After the 1999 Jiji Earthquake, seismic reinforcement work was carried out. In 2007, further widening and renovation were completed as part of the freeway expansion project between Yuanlin and Kaohsiung, allowing visitors to drive across the bridge more safely and freely.

　　Zhongsha Bridge Reason to visit: One of Taiwan’s most famous bridges