Wuhan, Hubei… Where North Meets South in China

For centuries, trade and transportation within China was conducted by waterways. With the arrival of railways and the development of roads, one major waterway became an obstacle. That was the mighty Yangtze River (or the ChongJiang, as it is know to the Chinese themselves).
Photo 1 — Pedestrian ferry service linking Wuchang (on the south side) with Hankow (on the north).

One of the first grand construction projects of the new regime in China (after 1949)was to bridge the Yangtze so that road and rail traffic could pass from north to south without having to be ferried across this waterway.
Photo 2 — Locals gather at the bridge under the images of yellow cranes. (There is much myth about these cranes and the founding of the city in ancient times.)

The First Bridge (as it continues to be called) was constructed at Wuhan. A second, in much the same design (with significant Soviet influence) was constructed at Nanjing, a bit further downstream. Both provide rail on the lower level and road traffic on the upper.

For tourists with an interest in Chinese history, First Bridge in Wuhan continues to be one of those significant sites to visit.

For me, a late Sunday afternoon visit provided much more than just a view of a river and a bridge, but some insight as well into how locals enjoy musical talent.

We are located here on the Wuchang side of the river.  In the distance can be seen Hankou.  And a short distance down the river is Hanyang.  These three separate cities joined together, combing their names to form Wuhan.

Along the riverbank this Sunday afternoon were a number of music groups, each with huge speakers, microphones and “live” musicians.  Onlookers showed their appreciation by contributing flowers or cash.  It was a fun way to enjoy a lovely Sunday afternoon.

The final shot here shows the skyline of Hankou across the river.

Photo albums from Wuhan visits:

Album: Wuhan — First Bridge on a Sunday.

Album: Wuhan Uprising Memorial

First published: 2009/11/17
Latest update:  2020/02/04