Marco Polo Bridge

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The bridge is the largest multi-arch bridge in the world is about 10km south west of Beijing. The name Marco Polo bridge came about as Marco Polo wrote about the beauty of the bridge.

It was first built in 1189 and has 485 carved stone lions. They were carved over the last few dynasties and no two of them are alike. You can enjoy the lion designs on both side of the bridge as you walk across.

Sadly, the lions had witnessed the Marco Polo Bridge incident. this is the site where the first shot that marked the Japanese full scale invasion of China was fired on the night of 7th July 1937 that lasted till 1945.


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Photos

Marco Polo Bridge
800 years old bridge that leads to Beijing City and the site that marked the start of Japanese invasion of China from 1937-1945.

Steles with poem title about the bridge
This is the title of a poem about the bridge by Empror Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty

Lion Carvings
This is one of the 485 lions that are on both sides of the bridge.

Lion Carvings
Another one of the 485 lions

One row of carved lions
Side view of the bridge with a row of the lions