Dagu River Broken Bridge, spanning the Sino-Korean border’s steel spine, the remaining rivets and rust solidify the memories of the 1950s gunfire. This remaining 214-meter bridge is the only channel for the Volunteers of China to cross the river during the Korean War, and the only war site that was not completely destroyed. At both ends of the bridge, the tracks are like broken violin strings, and the rusty rivets shimmer with a dark red glow in the cold wind. Every crack is engraved with the echoes of cannon fire. In the morning mist, the Broken Bridge often presents the spectacle of “Broken Bridge Remains of Snow,” with snowflakes condensing into ice crystals on the rust-stained steel frame, as if covering history with a pure white robe. The “Anti-U.S. Aid to Korea Memorial Tower” and “Broken Bridge Relic Memorial Hall” located at the bridgehead, through exhibits and images, recreate the thrilling moment in October 19, 1950 when the Volunteers secretly crossed the river. In the sculpture group, the statue of Yang Genshi (a Grade One Hero) embracing the breakthrough assault, and the copper statue of Korean People’s Army soldiers face each other across the river, witnessing the iron-blooded friendship between the two countries’ military and civilian personnel. As the most complete military relic currently existing on the Sino-Korean border, the Broken Bridge is not only a physical presentation of war scars, but also a historical coordinate for peaceful development. The rusted steel beams are condensed with memories crossing the border, and every scar tells the story: Peace is precious, and remembrance is the key to rebirth.
