The Xiashesi Grand Bridge was officially opened to traffic on the morning of June 27, 2025. The bridge was the eighth river-crossing channel on the Xiangtan City section of the Xiangjiang River. An array of runners gathered here to celebrate the official opening of the bridge with a fun run.

The Xiashesi Grand Bridge spans over the Xiangjiang River. (Photo/Liu Bin, People's Daily)

The Xiashesi Grand Bridge is an important transportation hub connecting Xiangtan City's downtown and Xiangtan County. The bridge starts from the intersection of Jianshe South Road and Shuyuan Road in Yuetang District of Xiangtan City in the north, extends southward and ends at the intersection of Xianglian Avenue and Fenghuang West Road in Xiangtan County. The total length is 1,885.5 meters, with a main bridge length of 540 meters, bridge width of 37.5 meters, and main span of 200 meters. The bridge is designed as a two-way six-lane trunk road with a designed speed of 60 kilometers per hour.

An aerial view of the Xiashesi Grand Bridge. (Photo provided by the Xiangtan Chengfa Group)

The north bridge approach connects the Xiangtan Electric Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Xiangtan Iron & Steel Co., Ltd., and other large-scale state-owned enterprises, providing convenient transportation conditions for enterprises to expand market and optimize industrial structure. Upon operation, the bridge will effectively alleviate the pressure on the existing river crossings in Xiangtan City, facilitate public travel, and enhance the transportation efficiency of the whole region.

A fun run event is held to celebrate the opening of the bridge. (Photo/Liu Bin, People's Daily)

This article is from the Hunan Provincial Government www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translator: Yu Jiangjiang

Chinese source: People's Daily