In that changing era, the construction of the Qiantang River Bridge was not only an engineering and technical challenge, but also a test of national spirit. In 1933, in the face of the tense situation after the "September 18 Incident", Zhejiang Province's transportation and national defense were affected by the blockage of the Qiantang River. The Kuomintang Zhejiang Construction Department decided to build a bridge over this surging river to connect the Zhejiang-Jiangxi Railway and the Shanghai-Hangzhou Railway and strengthen the inter-regional connection.
However, the Qiantang River, with its wide surface, ferocious tidal surges and 40-meter-deep quicksand, made the task of building a bridge extremely difficult. There is a saying in Hangzhou that "the Qiantang River has no bottom", and foreign bridge experts have contemptuously questioned the competence of Chinese engineers. Against this backdrop, Mao Yisheng, a 38-year-old bridge engineer, resigned from his university teaching position to take on a task that was considered almost impossible.
On November 11, 1934, the groundbreaking ceremony of the Qiantang River Bridge was held in Hangzhou. After two years of careful preparation and field investigation, Mao Yisheng and his team overcame natural conditions and technical difficulties to finally usher in this historic moment. However, on the first day of construction, an unfortunate accident occurred. A piling boat ran aground and sank shortly after launching, killing all the migrant workers on board. This incident made the people who were already afraid of the Qiantang River even more panicked.
In the face of the pressure of public opinion and the panic of the people, Mao Yisheng did not choose to escape, but adopted a unique way to appease people's hearts. He invited the troupe to sing by the river for three days and three nights in a row to divert the attention of the people and relieve their panic. This move, although it seems simple, reflects Mao Yisheng's deep understanding and care for the people's feelings.
Mao Yisheng's attention to the construction of the bridge is reflected in every detail. From the design of the piers to the construction of the steel beams, from the inspection procedures of every screw, he personally ensured the quality and progress of the project. In the context of the all-out war of resistance, all the construction workers held their breath, hoping that the construction would be completed as soon as possible to support the national war of resistance.
On September 26, 1937, the lower single-track railway bridge of the Qiantang River Bridge was the first to be opened to traffic, which marked the basic completion of the construction of the bridge. However, the harsh reality of war soon shattered that joy. On December 23 of that year, only 89 days before the completion of the bridge, in order to block the southward movement of the Japanese army, Mao Yisheng endured the pain and ordered the bridge to be blown up. This night, Mao Yisheng stayed awake all night, he wrote in his diary the oath of "the war of resistance will be won, this bridge will be restored", and wrote a poem to express his firm belief in the future.
The Qiantang River Bridge was designed to serve for 50 years, but after many major repairs and reinforcements, it has been overdue for more than 30 years. Today's Qiantang River Bridge is still as solid as a rock, its design is clever, the construction quality is excellent, it has become a masterpiece in the history of mainland bridge construction. Mao Yisheng's deeds and the history of the Qiantang River Bridge are not only a legend of engineering technology, but also a hymn to the national spirit.
Text/Compendium