Guangzhou Walking Tour: Haixin Bridge and Pearl River Views

Channel: Walk East Published: July 27, 2024 Duration: 3:55:56 Views: 903.3K

What this video shows

This is a long, continuous walking tour of Guangzhou, filmed by the channel Walk East. The route centres on the Haixin Bridge, the first pedestrian bridge built across the Pearl River in the city, which links Ersha Island Art Park on the north bank with Guangzhou Tower on the south. The footage presents the bridge and the surrounding central business district as a piece of urban design, with commentary on how the structure was conceived and what it adds to the city. Beyond the bridge itself, the video frames Guangzhou as a major southern Chinese metropolis with a long trading history and a distinctive regional food culture.

At a glance

LocationGuangzhou, Guangdong province, southern China
SettingLarge city; central business district along the Pearl River
What it coversA walk across and around the Haixin Bridge, with background on the city
Costs mentionedNone mentioned
Time of dayNot stated in the video

What stands out

The bridge is described as the widest and longest oblique-arch curved-beam pedestrian bridge in the world, and the first landmark in the city's central axis designed by a local architect. Its shape borrows from two Lingnan cultural motifs, the water sleeve and the ancient qin, while the deck landscaping takes after the local water flower market; flower boats physically divide the eastern and western halves of the walkway. Guangzhou itself is noted as China's third-largest city after Shanghai and Beijing, roughly 120 km from Hong Kong and 145 km from Macau, with more than 2,200 years of history as a Silk Road terminus and port. The climate is subtropical, with long summers, mild winters, and greenery and flowers year-round, which is why the city has long been called the Flower City.

Video transcript

Haixin Bridge is the first pedestrian landscape bridge across the Pearl River in Guangzhou. It is located in the core area of the CBD, connected to Ersha Island Art Park in the north and Guangzhou Tower in the south. The upstream is about 300m away from Guangzhou Bridge, and the downstream is about 1600m away from Liede Bridge. The core area of Guangzhou city boasts world-class urban landscapes on both sides of the Pearl River. However, what is lacking in this vibrant metropolis is not just a bridge, but a functional urban public space that seamlessly

connects the two sides. The pedestrian bridge will embrace the city center with an open posture, creating an unrivaled panoramic view that overlooks the Pearl River's core scenic area. Not only will it serve as a vital artery for urban connectivity, but it will also provide a stunning public space for citizens and visitors alike. The design concept for the bridge is deeply rooted in the regional cultural identity, which is fully reflected in its architectural features. The bridge's form draws inspiration from the water sleeve and ancient Qin, two

distinct cultural motifs found in the Lingnan region. Similarly, the bridge deck's landscape design is inspired by the local water flower market, creating a cohesive and integrated design that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. The bridge's design solution moves beyond traditional approaches to bridge design, as the introduction of flower boats creates a physical separation between the eastern and western sides of the bridge deck. The first pedestrian bridge across the Pearl River in Guangzhou, the first landmark building originally created

by a local designer in the core section of the central axis of Guangzhou, is currently the widest and longest oblique-arch curved-beam pedestrian bridge in the world. The bridge was setting the record for the world's largest span and widest oblique arch curved beam pedestrian bridge. Guangzhou is the capital and largest city of Guangdong province in southern China. Located on the Pearl River about 120 km (75 mi) north-northwest of Hong Kong and 145 km (90 mi) north of Macau, Guangzhou has a history of over 2,200 years and was a major terminus of the Silk

Road. It's China's most important port Situated on the Pearl River, Guangzhou has a maritime heritage stretching back over 2,000 years and its vast port is China's main transport and trading hub. It was also one of the starting points of the old Silk Road, a trading route that stretched across Asia. Why is Guangzhou special? Guangzhou has served as a doorway for foreign influence since the 3rd century CE and was the first Chinese port to be regularly visited by European traders, who called it Canton. But perhaps the most memorable aspect of Guangzhou is

its food. The city is renowned for its Cantonese cuisine, which is a style of Chinese cooking that is celebrated all over the world for delicious flavours and innovative techniques – both traditional and modern. Guangzhou is located in the subtropical zone, which is with long time of summer and warm winter, and the trees in Guangzhou are always green and the flowers are always in blossom all year round. It has enjoyed the reputation of Flower City since ancient times. Guangzhou, formerly Canton, is China's third-largest city after Shanghai and Beijing,

and it's a must-see for the intrepid tourist. Sights and landmarks, natural parks, and great shopping are just some of its many attractions.

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