Xiaochuan Bridge opens to traffic in Shexian

The Xiaochuan Bridge over the Xin'an River in Shexian county, Anhui province, opened to traffic in August, at last providing rural communities on both banks with a long-awaited direct road link.

Xiaochuan Bridge. [Photo/WeChat account: Huangshan Daily]

The bridge is the first tunnel-anchored suspension bridge in Anhui, featuring a main span of 320 meters with a steel box girder and two lanes, and forms part of a road project covering 1.15 kilometers with a total investment of about $25.00 million.

Before the bridge was built, residents in Xiaochuan township relied on ferries or long detours, taking more than an hour to cross the river. Today, that journey has been cut to just a few minutes. The new link connects provincial highways S348 and S349, forming a circular road network along the river and improving local mobility.

Beyond easing daily commutes, the bridge is expected to boost rural tourism along the Xin'an River scenic belt, offering travelers a more convenient gateway to nearby attractions in the Huangshan area. It also opens up new opportunities for local agriculture, making it easier to transport tea, citrus and other local farm produce to wider markets.