(ECNS) -- A descendant of an American engineer who helped build one of China's most historic bridges over the Yellow River visited Lanzhou in northwest China's Gansu Province on Thursday to retrace his family's ties to China, which date back more than a century.
Charles Robert Coltman, the great-nephew of Robert Coltman, known in Chinese historical records as Man Baoben, visited Zhongshan Bridge, a landmark in Lanzhou completed in 1909. His great-uncle served as the project's chief on-site engineer, overseeing the construction of the foundations and the assembly of the steel trusses.
The bridge was built through international cooperation: an American company designed it, a German firm oversaw construction, and Chinese workers carried out the construction work. Originally known as the Lanzhou Yellow River Iron Bridge, it was renamed Zhongshan Bridge in 1928 in honor of Sun Yat-sen, the founding father of modern China.
"Coming to Lanzhou today has special meaning for me," Coltman told China News Service. He said the bridge was more than an engineering achievement, describing it as an enduring symbol of the friendship between his family and China.
The bridge continues to serve its original purpose, he said, connecting the present with the past and demonstrating the value of international cooperation.
Coltman also thanked the Gansu Provincial Archives for providing copies of his great-uncle's letters about the bridge. The documents provide a firsthand record of the engineer's work on the project more than a century ago.
During the visit, Coltman and his wife also toured local museums and cultural institutions, including the Gansu Provincial Museum and the Yellow River Bridge Museum.
(By Evelyn)
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