This stunning bridge is celebrated for its hundreds of lion statues, as well as its wartime history.
Marco Polo Bridge, also known as Lugou Bridge, is an enormous 266-metre structure spanning the Yongding River and comes complete with 11 arches, 10 piers and a massive 281 pillars! As well as its scale, the bridge is famous for its stunning ornate design. It was first built at the end of the 12th century, while the current incarnation of the structure dates back to the 1600s.
Marco Polo admired the bridge in his travel diaries, written when he was here during the 12th century, hence the selection of its present-day name. First built in 1192, the bridge was damaged by flooding, but was restored anew in 1698. Much later, the first shots of the second Sino-Japanese War, which would go on to become part of the Second World War, were fired here in 1937.
The lions adorning the Marco Polo Bridge are each unique, with a number of them dating back many centuries to the Jin Dynasty. Local myth holds that the lions come to life after dark and roam around the area.
Both ends of the bridge are home to various monuments: there is a memorial to the Emperor Qianlong at one end, which exalts him as “The Moon Over the Lugou at Dawn”. On the other side, the renovation of the bridge itself is commemorated, while stone elephants also adorn the bridge at either end.
While you’re in this part of the city, be sure to check out Wanping City Wall too.
The Marco Polo Bridge is found in the Fengtai District, some 16 kilometres from Tiananmen Square. You can take the bus to Kang Zhan Diao Su Yuan station, and travel the rest of the way on foot, or hail a taxi.
There is a small fee for access to the bridge, and the opening hours differ depending on the time of year, so it's best to check this before you visit.
