Childhood memories are often the most profound. I remember when I was a child, I watched the movie "Thousands of Rivers and Thousands of Mountains" co-produced by Bayi Film Studio and Beijing Film Studio, directed by Huachun and Cheng Yin, and starred by Huang Kai and Lan Ma. In it, the scene of the Red Army flying over the Luding Bridge was so hard that I even saw many film and television works reflecting this theme and felt that I was not as impressed as that one.

Stills of the movie "Thousands of Rivers and Mountains"

Especially on January 21, 1990, the reporter participated in the production of the large-scale musical song and dance film "Overture to the Asian Games" filmed in the VIP Building of the Beijing Hotel with the theme of the 11th Asian Games. He also invited the actor of the film "Thousands of Rivers and Thousands of Mountains" and Comrade Huang Kai, a famous performing artist of the former General Political Repertory Troupe, to serve as the host. Therefore, he had an unforgettable cooperation with him, which gave him an inexplicable feeling for the film "Thousands of Rivers and Thousands of Mountains".

Stills of "Asian Games Overture"(Photo: Feng Ganyong)

In addition, on the evening of July 2, 2021, at the national local opera performance centers, I also observed and reported on the Kunqu Opera "Flying to Seize the Luding Bridge" performed by the Northern Kunqu Opera Theater to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China. It can be said that it is a matter of expressing my love with Luding Bridge in Sichuan.

Stills of flying over Luding Bridge (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Time flies, and decades pass in a flash, but my long-cherished wish to have the opportunity to visit here has never changed. Although there was an opportunity, it was missed for various reasons. Unexpectedly, from September 16 to 22, 2021, the first stop of a seven-day "Top of Sichuan" tour organized by Ctrip Travel Southwest suppliers was Luding. I really followed my wish...

Leave Chengdu and get on the Expressway (Photo: Ma Xiuyu)

At 5:30 a.m. on September 17, 2021, reporters set off from Chengdu Jincheng Hotel where they stayed to the starting point of "Sichuan Top" and gathered to wait for departure. At about 7:30, the reporter and a group of 15 group members from all over the country, including Wang Jue, Ma Xiuyu, Jiang Xiao, Li Jun, Yan Qiaofen, boarded a tourist bus partnered by driver Song Jinxiang and Sichuan Ctrip West Sichuan Line tour guide Zhong Lingling., starting the journey.

Scenery along the way (Photo: Ma Xiuyu)

After the car started, tour guide Zhong Lingling warmly greeted everyone and said: Today we started a journey from Chengdu to the last pure land of the blue planet-Daocheng Aden. On this trip, we will visit several famous attractions in Ganzi Prefecture such as Ya 'an Luding, Kangding Muya Holy Land, Xindu Bridge, Litang Letong Ancient Town, Daocheng Yading, and Moshi Park. Then, the knowledgeable Xiao Zhong began to paint magic and color, explaining the contents of the itinerary in an in-depth and simple manner.

Erlang Mountain Tunnel Entrance

Our bus came out from the south gate of Chengdu and drove onto the Chengya Expressway. It had endless scenery along the way. It passed through the 10.9-kilometer and 13.5-kilometer Dajiahe Tunnel Group and the Erlangshan Tunnel. In particular, the huge five-star red flag landscape on the ceiling in the tunnel left a deep impression on people.

National flag landscape in the tunnel (Photo: Ma Xiuyu)

At about 9 a.m., we passed through Ya 'an Tianquan Service Area. This is also a check-in spot for Internet celebrities on National Highway 318. Next to a smiling panda statue, there is a yellow and black sign, with the words "318 must drive in this life" written on it.

Tianquan Service Area (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Coincidentally, on September 16, the first day we arrived here, after two months of trial operation, the Shudao Group Sichuan-Tibet Highway Pavilion officially opened in the Tianquan Service Area of Sichuan Yakang Expressway. This is also my country's first special exhibition hall of the "Two Roads" spirit in the expressway service area that comprehensively and systematically reflects the construction and transformation of the Sichuan-Tibet Highway and the construction of the Sichuan-Tibet Expressway. The total exhibition area is about 800 square meters, and there are four chapters: "Sichuan Road is difficult, Sichuan Road is accessible, Sichuan Road is smooth, and Sichuan Road People". It is divided into 8 functional exhibition areas: preface hall, ancient tea-horse road, ground-breaking, changing the world, earth-shaking, earth-shaking, and transcending. Unfortunately, due to the limited time I stayed here, it was a bit a pity that I couldn't have a look.

Arrive at Luding, Ya 'an (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

At 10:40 a.m., after more than three hours of driving after the trip, the first stop on the day of the Chuanzhidian trip, Ya 'an Luding, finally arrived. Get off the bus and walk along the path along the Dadu River towards Luding Bridge. Looking at the rolling river water, I couldn't help but feel a little excited.

Overlooking Luding Bridge (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Along the way, Zhong Lingling also talked eloquently: The Luding Bridge was built in September (1705) of the 44th year of the Kangxi Dynasty of the Qing Dynasty and was put into use in April (1706) of the 45th year of the Kangxi Dynasty; The Luding Bridge has a total length of 103.67 meters and a width of 3 meters. There are 13 iron chains fixed in the abutments on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. 9 are used as bottom chains and 4 are used as handrails on both sides. There are a total of 12164 iron rings fastened together. The whole bridge weighs more than 40 tons. It is an ancient bridge with a long history; The bridge was famous at home and abroad for the battle of the Chinese Workers and Peasants Red Army to "fly and seize the Luding Bridge".

Map of Luding Bridge Scenic Area (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

It takes less than ten minutes to walk from the parking lot to reach the Luding Bridge Scenic Area, which is the west entrance of Luding Bridge Head. It was here that the Red Army entered and began to fly over the Luding Bridge.

Feiduo Luding Bridge Oil Painting

On May 25, 1935, the vanguard troops of the Central Red Army successfully crossed the Dadu River at Anshun Chang, Sichuan Province, heading north along the left bank of the Dadu River. The main force moved north from Anshun Chang along the right bank of the Dadu River. The commandos composed of Liao Dazhu, commander of the 2nd Company of the 4th Red Regiment, braved the hail of bullets, stepped on densely covered iron chains and seized the bridge, and surrounded the troops on the left bank to occupy Luding City. The main force of the Central Red Army then crossed the natural barrier from the Luding Bridge, defeating Chiang Kai-shek's attempt to annihilate the Red Army south of the Dadu River.

Photo taken in front of Kangxi Imperial Monument (Photo: Zhong Lingling)

Directly opposite the west entrance of the Luding Bridge Head is a red imperial stele inscribed by Emperor Kangxi. The three big characters "Luding Bridge" are written in the middle on a black background and white characters, and the horizontal inscription on it reads "Unifying Rivers and Mountains." Behind the red imperial stele is a historic temple built on the mountain-Guanyin Pavilion.

Guanyin Pavilion in Qiaoxi (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

At that time, this temple was the battery and machine gun position where the Red Army "flew over the Luding Bridge Point Command Headquarters". It was under its cover that 22 warriors of the Red Army bravely climbed over 13 iron chain bridges, shattering Chiang Kai-shek's dream of making the Red Army the "second stone Dakai".

Bridge West Main Gate (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

From the opposite side of the Kangxi Imperial Monument, you will begin to climb the bridge after entering the gate of the couplet inscribed from left to right,"People crossing the mirror like a ladder, and the shadows shaking the moon on the bottom" and the plaque "Luding Bridge". On both sides of the bridge are displayed the ruins of a section of iron chains connected to stones for people to browse. From one aspect, it shows the long history and vicissitudes of the construction of Luding Bridge.

Photo taken at Qiaotou Relics Exhibition (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Looking back at history, it is at the Beipanjiang Ferry at the junction of Guanling and Qinglong counties. The two peaks stand together, one in the water is cut off, and the cliff is thousands of feet long, and the wall stands like a cut. It was the only way to enter Yunnan from Guizhou in ancient times. The east and west banks are about 80 meters apart, and the water flow is rapid.

China's First Red Bridge (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

In the fourth year of Chongzhen of the Ming Dynasty (1631), Zhu Jiamin, the governor of Guizhou Province, proposed building a steel chain bridge, with dozens of large iron chains running through the rocks on both sides of the bank. It is paved with double wooden boards, about 27 centimeters thick and about 3 meters wide. Mesh chain guardrails about 3 meters high are erected on both sides, and the bridgehead is equipped with battlements to facilitate travel, rest and shelter from rain.

Looking at Luding Bridge from the East Bank (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

According to on-site observation by Xu Xiake, a travel explorer in the Ming Dynasty, the bridge "looks ethereal, but it stands still when you see it." Hundreds of herds of cattle and horses pass by day, and all of them leave with heavy burdens." It was built many times in the Qing Dynasty. Large trees were stacked on the river bank and huge rocks were used to form an arch shape to firmly support the chain plates. It is also accompanied by shield bars and floor houses. As a result, pedestrians can pass in a file and be one step better than before.

Photo taken on the bridge (Photo: Ma Xiuyu)

Ancient trees on both sides of the Dadu River are gloomy, stele stones stand upright, and forest palaces are ethereal and hidden in glory. Former people regarded it as a scenic spot in central Guizhou where "Qian Qian's golden locks straddle the silver Han, and a hundred feet of Dan Tower straddle the colorful phoenix."

The wooden board on the bridge (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Three hundred years ago, the transfer of materials between Tibetans and Han people to the Dadu River was all by ferries or zip ropes. Due to the failure to cross the river in time, goods on both sides of the Dadu River often pile up like mountains. Some fresh food, such as delicacies, meat and vegetables, etc., rotted due to the inability to cross the river. Frequent military movements have also become obstacles here.

Looking at the two sides of the Taiwan Strait from the bridge (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

In 1705 AD, for the reunification of the motherland, Emperor Kangxi resolved the obstruction on the road from Han District to Tibetan areas and ordered the construction of the first bridge on the Dadu River. After a year of construction, the bridge was completed in 1706 AD. Emperor Kangxi took "Lushui"(the old name of the Dadu River) and "Pingding"(To suppress the rebellion in Junggar in Xizang), the imperial court personally wrote the three characters "Luding Bridge", which gave the name of Luding Bridge. From then on, the Luding Iron Chain Bridge became a link connecting Tibetan and Han transportation, and Luding County was also named after it. At the other end of the east side of the bridge, there is also the "Inscription of the Royal Luding Bridge" from the 48th year of Kangxi.

Express feelings at Luding Bridge (Photo: Wang Jue)

When the reporter set foot on the Luding Bridge, walking on the rickety bridge, he had thoughts. He couldn't help but play back the scene of the Red Army fighting fiercely amidst the hail of bullets in the movie "Thousands of Rivers and Mountains". It seemed to be echoing in his ears. The sound of intensive artillery fire and machine guns... but in front of him was the scene of happy tourists sightseeing here, and the laughter left by people was endless. If it were not for the bloody battles of the Red Army back then, how could people have the peace and happiness here today?

Photo taken on the bridge (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

So, when the movie complex of realizing dreams for decades finally came true, I couldn't help but spread my arms on the Luding Bridge, let myself go, and left behind unforgettable freeze-frame pictures while expressing my thoughts to my heart.

Iron chain landscape on the bridge (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Sightseeing the Luding Bridge and looking around. Although I feel that the Dadu River today does not seem as surging as it did when I watched the movie back then, looking at the real iron chains and wooden boards around me reminds me of "The great poem of the Dadu Bridge" The iron chains are cold "is really relevant and profound at this moment. I also understood more the difficulty of the Red Army soldiers crawling forward and fighting back on this bare iron chain without a wooden board while facing the enemy's guns and bullets while laying wooden boards. At the same time, I also deeply understood the significance of winning this battle.

Photo taken in front of the monument of cultural relics (Photo: Wang Jue)

The Battle of Ludingqiao is worthy of being an important milestone during the Long March of the Communist Party of China and the Workers and Peasants 'Red Army. It laid a solid foundation for the realization of the historic rendezvous of the First, Second and Fourth Front Armies of the Red Army and finally went north to northern Shaanxi to end the Long March. An immortal chapter has been written in the history of the revolution in China, with the magnificent praise of "thirteen chains splitting the road to the Republic".

Bridge East Entrance (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

Among the ten founding marshals of New China, seven of them passed through Luding Bridge during the Long March. At that time, on the Luding Bridge after the fierce battle, Marshal Liu Bocheng once stomped on the bridge slab three times with his foot and said with emotion: "Luding Bridge, Luding Bridge, how much energy and effort we have spent on you, how much effort we have spent, now we have won, we have won!" Commander-in-Chief Zhu De wrote a couplet for Luding Bridge in his memoirs of the Long March: "The Long March of thousands of miles still remembers the dangers of Luguan. The three armed forces stationed far away to strictly guard against imperial invasion. "It fully illustrates the hardships and heroism of the Red Army's Long March and capture of Luding Bridge.

Qiaodongwai Square (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

According to the direction of the Red Army's capture of the Luding Bridge, the reporter also crossed the bridge from the west of the bridge to the east of the bridge. After coming up, he faced a square. He saw people singing and dancing on the stage of the square, creating a happy and peaceful scene. There is also a group of statues of Red Army soldiers on the rock wall overlooking the other side of the Dadu River, which is particularly eye-catching.

Statue of the Red Army on the Riverside (Photo: Feng Ganyong)

I only realized after visiting Luding Bridge this time. Today, the visit here consists of three parts: First, Luding Bridge. The second is the Ludingqiao Revolutionary Cultural Relics Museum. The museum displays photos, materials and objects of the Red Army's forced crossing of the Dadu River and the capture of the Luding Bridge, as well as inscriptions by the Red Army's leaders, calligraphy and famous paintings by famous calligraphers and painters. The third is the "Red Army Flying to Seize the Luding Bridge Monument" and its park. The name of the monument was inscribed by Deng Xiaoping and the inscription written by Nie Rongzhen. It was a worthwhile trip to visit Luding Bridge. It not only fulfilled the movie complex of that year, but also took a red journey. It was really full of rewards. (Photo and text: Feng Ganyong)