Bridge of heroes spans history

If the forced crossing had failed, the Red Army might have been wiped out, reads an exhibit in the museum with this quote from Mao.

The Luding Bridge Square is less than a minute walk from the east bank of the bridge and is the center of the Luding county seat. When night falls, the square is crowded with women dancing in groups. During the day, visitors can see Luding Bridge flanked by two highways from a distance.

Built in 1706 during the reign of Qing Emperor Kangxi, the entrance has the words Luding Bridge in the calligraphy of the emperor.

It was the only bridge crossing Dadu River in ancient times, and it was an important link on the ancient Tea Horse Road. Porters carrying tea to Tibetan-inhabited areas had to cross the bridge.

As so many porters passed the bridge, holes drilled with sticks used to support them can be seen on its west bank.

The 81-km-long Luding county section of Dadu River now has 23 bridges-19 highway bridges and four cable suspension bridges.

As locals have convenient transportation facilities, it takes them only three hours to drive from Luding Bridge to Anshunchang. But local farmers still retain the tradition of peddling fruits in the streets.

As it is the red cherry harvest season, farmers selling cherries in bamboo baskets are ubiquitous. One kilogram of cherries is sold for only 10 yuan ($1.50) on average.

Because cherry trees are in different parts of the mountainous county, people in Luding have cherries until June when the fruit on the high mountains is ripe, says Luo Chukai, an information officer with the Luding county committee of the CPC.

A cherry festival made its debut in the county on April 17, drawing visitors from different parts of the country to taste the fruit and walk on Luding Bridge.

Guo Yurong, a rural resort owner, says all the 31 star-related rural hotels and resorts in the county are full of visitors tasting cherries as well as fresh local dishes made of chicken, bacon, beans and edible wild herbs.

Each resort has cherry trees and visitors can pick the fruit from trees and eat it free of charge and to their hearts' content, she says.