Renovation helps old Beijing bridge shed weight

With the removal of the water pipes and telecommunications cables that ran along its sides completed, Beijing's Wanning Bridge, which is over 700 years old, has been restored to its original glory.

The oldest bridge along Beijing's Central Axis, the 7.8-km-long backbone of the ancient capital, Wanning spans the Yu River section of the Grand Canal and has played a significant role in north-south transportation since it was built during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368).

As Beijing developed, however, additions such as utility pipelines and fences were made to the ancient bridge over time.

"It was more important to meet people's needs at the time. The simplest way to do so was to hang everything off the bridge," said Ye Nan, who works at the Beijing Municipal Institute of City Planning & Design.

Finding a balance between protecting and using this significant landmark that has been witness to the capital's history became of critical concern to urban planners, Ye added.

In recent years, Beijing has worked on both the protection and urban renewal of its old city, and has taken a different method for solving the dilemma between conservation and use.

"In the past, renovation often involved adding new things, whereas this time, we have opted to remove unnecessary additions," Ye said. "The idea is to highlight the historic remains by simplifying their setting."

This concept has been used in the urban renewal regulations and plans of many cities, including Guangzhou, Guangdong province, and Xi'an, Shaanxi province, where efforts were made to preserve historical features, ban large-scale demolition and construction and protect the integrity of historical and cultural heritage.

Before helping Wanning shed some of its accumulated weight, a survey was conducted in 2020 that revealed its stone structure and asphalt pavement on its bridge deck were showing cracks.

The surveyors concluded that strengthening the overall protection of Wanning was urgent, as was a comprehensive renovation of its surroundings.

"To relocate the pipelines and cement piers that had been added to the bridge, we consulted with experts in the field," said Shen Junqiang, a Beijing municipal official responsible for conservation work along the Beijing Central Axis. "The project took a week, during which we made a concerted effort to minimize the impact to the bridge's structure, as well as limit the passage of pedestrians during nighttime hours."

As they repaired the weathered and eroded bridge, restoration workers made an effort to preserve its original features by using materials that closely resembled the originals.

Since its renovation, Wanning's former glory has been revived, and visitors now have uninterrupted views of the bridge from different vantage points.

Significantly, the barriers around an ancient stone creature positioned near the bridge, which is referred to as the "water control beast", have been removed, giving visitors a better view of this ancient embodiment of the desire for peace and tranquillity.

"After more than a year of effort, the bridge has not only regained its historical appearance and met local requirements, but it also radiates vitality," Ye said.

Xinhua