Bridges are the communication between souls and the communication between nations. During the period of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, the Turkic Khan Jie led 100,000 cavalry to the south and drove straight to the north of the bridge on the Weishui River to threaten Chang'an. However, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty only led six cavalry to the south of the bridge and asked questions across the water. In the end, the two sides reached an agreement to kill the white horse and make an agreement. The alliance became known as the "Weishi River Alliance". From then on, the Han nationality and the Turks lived in peace.

　　From London, England in 1851 to Belgrade, Serbia in 2027, these countries and cities all have unique bridges, either ancient or modern, and some were even built for the World Expo.

　　For this "Mobile World Expo" event on campus, we selected "one country, one city, one bridge" along the Belt and Road. Using the bridge as a window, we showed the cultural spirit of these countries and cities and the importance of mutual learning among world civilizations and significance. At the same time, the "Bridge of Civilization" lecture is about to start.

    01·

　　Connecting the Past—Classic Ancient Bridges: Classical Architectural Aesthetics and Major Historical Landmarks

　　China-Shanghai-Fangsheng Bridge

　　Shanghai, habitually called the "Magic City", may make people forget that it was once a misty water town in the south of the Yangtze River. Fangsheng Bridge is located in Zhujiajiao Ancient Town. It was first built during the Longqing period of the Ming Dynasty and rebuilt in the 17th year of Jiaqing (1812) of the Qing Dynasty. The bridge is 70.8 meters long and magnificent. On both sides of the bank are original Jiangnan houses with white walls and black tiles, recreating the scene of the "Old Shanghai" water town. Due to the thin structure of the piers and stone arches, the bridge looks particularly tall and graceful.

　　Bulgaria - Plovdiv - Devil's Bridge

　　Devil's Bridge was built in 1515 and is one of the oldest stone bridges in Bulgaria. The bridge is 56 meters long and 3.5 meters wide. It has three arches and a graceful arc, integrating with the picturesque canyon. There are small arches between the main arches, which can save energy and play the role of water level measurement and flood discharge when floods break out. It seems to be similar to the Zhaozhou Bridge in China. In 1981, Plovdiv, one of the oldest cities in Europe, hosted the World Expo with the theme "Hunting, Fishing, Man in Society".

　　Hungary-Budapest-Széchenyi Chain Bridge

　　Budapest, the capital of Hungary, where the famous "Chain Bridge" is located, hosted the World Expo in 1971 with the theme of "The Evolution and Art of Human Hunting". This was the first time that the World Expo focused on man and nature.

　　"Chain Bridge" is an ancient bridge with a lot of stories. In the cold winter of 1820, the Hungarian nobleman Count Istvan Széchenyi suddenly received the news that his father was critically ill in Vienna, and immediately set out to visit his father, but the floating bridge on the Danube River Ice blocked the way. He ultimately failed to see his father for the last time. So the count vowed:"If anyone can build a permanent bridge between Buda and Pest, I will donate my entire salary!"

　　In June 1849, a three-hole iron bridge with chain cables as the skeleton was finally completed. It was 380 meters long and 203 meters apart between the two piers. It was the longest span bridge in the world at that time. In order to commemorate the contribution of Count Széchenyi, the bridge was named "Széchenyi Chain Bridge". Count Széchenyi’s filial piety must have seemed to the Chinese to be like an ancient gentleman.

　　United Kingdom - London - Tower Bridge

　　In 1851, the world's first World Expo, the Exposition of All Nations Industries, was held in Hyde Park, London. Whether you've been to London or not, I'm sure you've heard of Tower Bridge, which spans the River Thames. The bridge was built from 1886 to 1894 and became another landmark building in London after the World Expo venue "Crystal Palace".

　　This century-old rope bridge supports London's increasingly heavy traffic and has witnessed London's transformation from the economic depression after World War II into a rapidly developing modern city. The two main towers have white marble roofs and five small spiers, which look like two crowns from a distance, very "British". It is also a famous movable bridge. There is an electric lift on the bridge. If a giant ship blows its whistle, the lower bridge deck can automatically tilt to both sides to allow the ship to pass. At this time, pedestrians can change their route and pass through the upper layer without affecting traffic.

　　Italy - Turin - Umberto I Bridge

　　The Tiber River is regarded as the mother river by Italians. As early as the 7th century BC, the ancient Romans built wooden bridges on the Tiber River. Many beautiful ancient bridges have been preserved to this day, including the famous Vittorio Emma Nue II Bridge and Sant'Angelo Bridge, etc.

　　The Umberto I Bridge was built between 1885 and 1895. King Umberto I and Queen of Italy personally attended the completion ceremony of the bridge. The Turin-born king made great achievements. During his reign, he led Italy out of isolation and formed the Triple Alliance with Germany and Austria. Italians have always been known for cherishing history and being good at preserving monuments. In 1961, Turin held a grand World Expo with the theme of "Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Italian Unification." Many bridges, including the Umberto I Bridge, can be said to have witnessed many important and glorious moments in Italian history.

　　France - Paris - Alexandre III Bridge

　　Historically, France and Russia have had a love-hate relationship. In 1812, French Emperor Napoleon I sent his troops to attack Russia, causing Moscow to be massacred in flames. In order to resolve the hatred, nearly a century later, to celebrate the upcoming 1900 World Expo in Paris, Russian Czar Nicholas II donated a magnificent bridge to France over the Seine River in Paris. The bridge meaningfully leads to Napoleon's tomb and was named after the Tsar's father, Alexander III. The two countries have since forgotten their grudges, and the bridge has become a symbol of Russian-French friendship.

　　The turn of the century in 1900 was at the end of the second industrial revolution, and the world structure was about to undergo drastic changes. It can be said to be a historical watershed. The theme of this Paris World Expo is "Looking Back at the Century - Showcasing the Scientific and Technological Achievements of the 19th Century", which is very meaningful.

　　02·

　　Building the Present-Modern Bridge: The Demonstration of Technological Revolution and Industrial Power

　　China-Shanghai-Waibaidu Bridge

　　The Waibaidu Bridge, located near the estuary where the Suzhou River merges into the Huangpu River and close to the Bund, is China's first all-steel riveted bridge. It is also one of the earliest symbols of Shanghai's integration with the world and modernization in modern China. It was built in 1907 at the end of the Qing Dynasty. It was completely different from traditional Chinese-style bridges. It surprised people at the time and opened a new chapter in Chinese bridge construction.

　　In the following more than 100 years, Waibaidu Bridge has appeared countless times in film and television works set in Shanghai. Its name is also very "Shanghai". In Shanghai dialect, crossing the river by boat is called "ferry". The bridge is located at the first ferry upstream of the Suzhou River, so the locals used to call this ferry "wai ferry".". Since there was no toll to cross the bridge after it was built,"bai" in Shanghai dialect has the same pronunciation as "bai", which means there is no need to pay, so the name "Waibaidu" was passed down in this way.

　　Japan-Osaka-Namba Bridge

　　During the Meiji Restoration Movement from the 1860s to the 1890s, Japan adopted the slogan of "rich country and strong military, colonial industry, and civilized civilization" and quickly embarked on the road of capitalism from a backward feudal country to become a powerful country in Asia. But at the same time it is still accompanied by strong feudalism and aggressive expansionism. Since then, Japanese culture has also shown two completely different poles, local and Western. This can be seen on the Namba Bridge built in 1915. There are a pair of lions carved from granite at each end of the bridge. Although it has a Western-style appearance, it has the same "A-shaped" and "Hum-shaped" shapes that open on the left and close on the right, just like the Koaminu of the shrine.

　　In 1970, Osaka held the unprecedentedly grand World Expo with the theme of "Human Progress and Harmony", which also became a symbol of Japan's rapid post-war economic recovery. Japan further opened its doors through the World Expo and made effective efforts to reintegrate into the international community. Namba Bridge, which has experienced the ups and downs of Japan for a hundred years, also quietly reminds people: peace and communication are needed, not war or extremes.

　　Canada-Montreal-Jacques Cartier Bridge

　　Every time you watch the Jacques-Cartier Bridge, you have to marvel at its majesty. This modern steel structure cantilever bridge was actually built in 1926. It was named to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the voyage of Jacques Cartier, the French explorer who discovered Canada along the St. Lawrence River.

　　Canada is one of the most developed and open countries today. Its population is mainly of British, French and other European descent. The legacy of French culture can be seen everywhere. The simple and elegant curves of the Jacques Cartier Bridge are like a recumbent Eiffel Tower. In 1967, the Montreal World Expo took "Man and the World" as its theme, once again demonstrating Canada's openness to the world.

　　Austria-Vienna-Imperial Bridge

　　Vienna is a major cultural center in Europe and is also known as the music capital of the world. The Vienna World Expo held in 1873 took culture and education as important themes. More than half a century after the World Expo, the Imperial Bridge was built across the Danube River. It is located on the important axis extending from St. Stephen's Square in the city center to the northeast and has become one of Vienna's new landmarks. The bridge has a gentle and steady shape, adding a romantic temperament to Vienna.

　　United States-San Francisco-Golden Gate Bridge

　　San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge was built in 1937, but even today, nearly a hundred years later, it still looks amazingly modern. The bridge's many bold breakthroughs in engineering technology made it a benchmark for super-engineering construction and management in the modern world. It also became a symbol of America's freedom, prosperity, conquest of nature, and hope and vitality after emerging from the quagmire of the Great Depression.

　　The United States is also the country that has hosted the most World Expos in the world. In 1915, to celebrate the opening of the Panama Canal, the famous Panama International Exposition was held here, setting a precedent for the longest expo in world history at that time and the largest number of participants. In 1939, not long after the bridge was built, San Francisco held another World Expo with the theme of "Tomorrow's New World." At that time, Asia and Europe were shrouded in the haze of World War II, and the United States, located on the other side of the world, was unparalleled in the limelight and had unique scenery.

　　South Korea-Daejeon-EXPO Bridge

　　Like China, Japan and other East Asian countries, South Korea also attaches great importance to the inheritance and display of traditional culture while integrating into the modern Western world. The 1993 Daejeon World Expo was the first thematic World Expo recognized by the Bureau International des Expositions held in a developing country. It was also an important opportunity for South Korea to showcase the "Miracle of the Han River" to the world.

　　In order to welcome this World Expo, Daejeon City built a bridge. Its modern shape combines the yin and yang patterns of Tai Chi. The two sides of the bridge are crossed with red and blue arches, which is very national.

　　Portugal-Lisbon-Vasco da Gama Bridge

　　Portugal is one of the earliest maritime powers that created the Age of Discovery and established world colonization. The navigator Vasco da Gama who opened the Indian route at the end of the 15th century was a representative figure in the era of Portugal's rise. It can be said that the ocean has contributed to Portugal’s historical glory and has long been deeply ingrained in the genes of Portuguese culture. The theme of the 1998 Lisbon Expo was, not surprisingly,“ocean”.

　　In March 1998, after more than three years of construction, a magnificent cross-sea cable-stayed bridge in the southeast of Lisbon was finally completed and opened to traffic on the eve of the World Expo. In order to better showcase modern Portugal to the world, the bridge was eventually named after the great navigator Vasco da Gama. When it was built, it was the longest bridge in Portugal and even Europe. The total length of the bridge is 17.2 kilometers, and the main span of the cable-stayed bridge with the main navigation hole is 420 meters.

　　Australia-Melbourne-Bolt Bridge

　　Australia is very young. It has only been more than 250 years since the British navigator Captain Cook discovered the Australian continent (1770). Since then, Australia, as a British colony, has rapidly become rich relying on its abundant wool, gold mines and other resources. The International Industrial and Agricultural Exposition held in Melbourne in 1880 was an important demonstration of Australia's economic power.

　　Today, Australia is still the most economically developed country in the southern hemisphere. The Bolt Bridge, built from 1996 to 1999, is one of the largest balanced cantilever cast-in-place box girder bridges in Australia. One of its special features is that there are no suspension cables installed on the two huge towers. They are just for display and their interiors are hollow.

　　Belgium-Brussels-Tondo Pedestrian Bridge

　　Belgium is located between the three major countries of Britain, France and Germany, and is known as the "crossroads of Europe". Although it has a short history of independent founding and a small land area, it held a total of 8 World Expos from the end of the 19th century to the middle of the 20th century, which effectively enhanced the country's status and promoted the development of the city. As the capital of Belgium and the seat of the EU's main administrative agencies, Brussels has hosted four World Expos in 1897, 1910, 1935 and 1958.

　　Completed in 2000, the Tondo is an ingeniously designed pedestrian bridge that connects the Chamber of Deputies offices in the Palais des Nations building to the second floor of the New Forum building on the other side. This extremely modern covered bridge abandons simple straight-line connection, and instead adopts a circular connection, just like a ring embedded between the two buildings. This ring shape is also in line with the political propositions of Belgium and even the European Union: communication, equality, and harmony.

　　Germany-Hannover-Expo Pedestrian Bridge

　　This is a pedestrian bridge built specifically for the 2000 Hannover Expo.

　　Germany, a country founded on science and technology, will certainly not give up this opportunity to show the world. The Hannover Expo takes "Man·Nature·Technology: Showing a Brand New World" as its theme, emphasizing sustainable development and leaps in technology and ideas to achieve The harmonious unity of man and nature. The bridge is mainly made of steel and glass and has a very modern appearance. The pedestrian bridge itself is an important exhibition venue. Many exhibition halls are built on the pedestrian bridge, providing visitors with a unique exhibition experience.

　　03·

　　Leading to the future - Bridge to the future: a bridge for thinking about social and cultural development

　　China-Shanghai-Lupu Bridge

　　The 21st century will be a century that belongs to China, and the World Expo will also be different because of China. In 2010, Shanghai successfully hosted the World Expo. This was the first time that a comprehensive world expo was held in a developing country, which reflected the world's attention and trust in China. The number of visitors from all over the world reached a record-breaking 70 million, which has not yet been broken. The theme of the Shanghai World Expo is "Better City, Better Life". This is also the first World Expo with the theme of "City". It focuses on displaying the achievements and concepts of advanced urban development and exploring new models for human settlement, life and work in the future.

　　The Lupu Bridge was completed and opened to traffic in 2003. It is located on the central axis of the World Expo site. Its overall shape is a rainbow flying across. Standing on the bridge, you can have a panoramic view of the World Expo venues and almost the entire Shanghai. With the advancement of the "Belt and Road" construction, the 13 cross-river bridges on the Huangpu River, together with the Yangtze River Bridge across the Yangtze River estuary in the north of Shanghai, and the Donghai Bridge in the south leading directly to Yangshan Deepwater Port, will further bring Shanghai and China closer The distance from the world has changed the world economic structure and thus changed the lives of countless people.

　　Spain-Barcelona-Sarajevo Bridge

　　As a long-standing European power, Spain successfully hosted the Barcelona World Expo as early as 1888 to celebrate Barcelona's urbanization and transformation into an industrial, commercial and cultural center to demonstrate its industrial power to the world. Spain is also the birthplace of modern art. Outstanding painters represented by Picasso boldly broke through the bottleneck of traditional art and launched the Cubism movement, the most far-reaching influence in the history of contemporary Western art. It can be seen that the Spaniards, who have had a glorious history, have never been afraid of dilapidation and innovation. They always have a special vision and imagination for the future world.

　　In 2016, Barcelona renovated the Sarajevo Bridge built in the 1980s. The bridge walkway uses photocatalytic cement, which can absorb surrounding toxic pollutants and convert them into harmless substances. The fluorescent materials mixed in the cement can illuminate the environment during the day. Absorbs sunlight and provides beautiful decorative lighting after dark. Environmental protection, energy saving and high efficiency are the development directions that future buildings will surely pursue.

　　UAE-Dubai-Tolerance Bridge

　　Dubai can be called the miracle city in the world today. This city surrounded by desert is dotted with futuristic super buildings such as Burj Khalifa and Palm Island. It is known as a paradise for the world's pioneering architects. The theme of the 2021 Dubai Expo is "Connecting Minds, Creating the Future". Perhaps, in the eyes of the Arabs, no matter how rich the oil reserves are, they will one day be exhausted. Only by being at the forefront of the world's technological development and creating great buildings that transcend the times can we ensure that this city will become the center of the world and never fall behind..

　　The bridge completed in 2017 is named the "Tolerance Bridge" and its designers say it represents Dubai's vibrant vision. The Prime Minister of the UAE declared:"We want to make the value of 'tolerance' an important part of the social fabric, social values, thoughts and actions... Our country's values promote coexistence, brotherhood, human tolerance and cultural integration." We wish this land to bid farewell to disputes forever and create more and more miracles for the future of the world.

　　Kazakhstan-Astana-Atyrau Bridge

　　You may be surprised to learn that this futuristic bridge is located in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, a landlocked country that few people talk about. The 2017 Astana Expo also set its sights on the future and set the theme as "Future Energy."

　　This bridge was also built in 2017. The decorative structure of the bridge is composed of 2,450 aluminum plates, each with a unique shape, resembling fish scales and the sturgeon is the symbol of the Atyrau region. When people walk into the bridge, they feel like they are in a big fish.

　　Sweden-Stockholm-Golden Bridge

　　Golden Bridge is located in the center of Stockholm. It has also been the meeting point of Stockholm's water and land transportation since ancient times. What's interesting is that this bridge is rebuilt every century. This one is now the fifth generation of the new "Golden Bridge" and the one with the most futuristic sense of technology. The most special thing is that its builders came from far away China. The bridge was first completed in its entirety in China and then transported to Stockholm by sea after 70 days and 20,333 kilometers, and was erected on site. This is also the ninth steel bridge project manufactured by China Railway Shanqiao in Europe. Its novel structure and excellent quality show the world the strength of the "infrastructure maniac".

　　In 2020, at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the completion of the Golden Bridge, King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden delivered a passionate speech:"The Golden Bridge made in China connects the north and south of the Swedish capital... This is an important link between history and the future." At present, Sweden has established the "One Belt, One Road" Research Institute and looks forward to more cooperation between China and Sweden in the future.

　　Finland-Helsinki-Kronuuri Bridge

　　The Kronouri Bridge under construction will not only become the longest, highest and longest-used bridge in Finland, but will also go down in history for its advanced transportation ideas. The bridge will be built specifically for public transport, pedestrian traffic and bicycles, a concept that has no precedent for a bridge of this scale.

　　Helsinki has been selected as the "World Design Capital" by the International Federation of Industrial Design. Innovative design is far more than the exquisite novelty of architectural appearance, but also includes the outlook for future society, technology and life. It is expected that the Krunuuri Bridge will become a new milestone in future bridge construction.

　　Serbia-Belgrade-Buping Bridge

　　The 2027 Serbian World Expo will be held in the capital, Belgrade, with the theme "Humanity's Play, Sports and Music for All". Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Sinisa Mali once said:"Serbia and Belgrade are the ideal meeting point between East and West."

　　In Belgrade, there is the Buping Bridge, the first large-scale infrastructure project invested and constructed by China in continental Europe. The bridge was named "Zemun-Borca Bridge" when it was built, but was later changed to its current name in memory of the scientist Mihailo Bupin. In December 2014, then Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang and Serbian President Vucic attended the opening ceremony of the Buping Bridge and cut the ribbon. Bridges can not only connect the two sides, but also promote cultural exchanges between the East and the West.

　　Today, we have jointly explored the magnificent picture of the era of "bridge: connecting mountains and rivers, and mutual learning among civilizations". In this era full of opportunities and challenges, China has entered the world stage with an open mind and great vision, adhering to the concept of win-win cooperation..

　　Bridges are the existence that connects mountains and rivers and communicates souls. Just like the bridge across the river, it allows people to integrate and communicate with each other. The “Belt and Road” is such a majestic bridge that closely connects ancient Eastern civilization with cultural treasures from around the world. It allows people in countries along the “Belt and Road” to inspire and learn from each other, and achieve the mutual integration and development of civilizations. On this bridge, we have witnessed the blending of cultures, where the arts and traditional customs of different countries intersect. It is reflected that through mutual visits and learning, we can better appreciate the world's diverse cultures, feel the charm of different civilizations and form new models of cooperation and development through exchanges.

　　Let us hold each other's hands tightly, cross mountains and rivers together, convey friendship, promote the construction of the "Belt and Road", and inject more power into world peace and progress. Connecting mountains and rivers and making mutual learning between civilizations become our common goal.

　　?Project Planning Team?

　　World Expo Museum

　　Chief planner: Dai Xiaoli

　　Producer/Coordinator: Wang Yangmin, Yuan Ji, Qiao Chuanming

　　China National Geographic Channel

　　Chief planner/host: Zhao Yaliang Yan Yan

　　Post-production/Photography: He Changjing Zhao Ziyu

　　Operation: Chen Qimeng Li Meng

　　China National Geographic·Chinese Heritage

　　Editor: Lu Siqi Writer: Chen Weifeng

　　Design: Zhang Wenzhuo

　　Part of the picture source: Tuchong Creative