Lugou Bridge, Stone bridge in Fengtai District, China
Lugou Bridge is a stone arch bridge crossing the Yongding River in Wanping Subdistrict, China, extending over 260 meters. Eleven even arches support the roadway, while granite railings lined with hundreds of lion figures border both sides.
The bridge was built in the late 12th century under the Jin dynasty and connected Beijing to southern regions at that time. In 1937, the first shots were fired here that sparked the Second Sino-Japanese War.
Each lion carved on the balustrade posts shows a different pose and face, pointing to centuries of stone carving work. Visitors today can walk between the arches and study the details of each figure, all shaped from the same granite.
Crossing is possible during daylight hours, and pedestrians can walk along the sides to view the sculptures. The best time to visit is morning, when light highlights the details of the stonework.
Marco Polo mentioned this bridge in his 13th-century travel writings and described the construction as exceptional. The exact number of lions on the balustrade posts remains disputed to this day, as many figures are very small and were hidden between larger sculptures.
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