Deng Wenzhong: Chongqing Must Be the Best Place

The Narrator: Deng Wenzhong


Deng Wenzhong, born in 1938 in Zhaoqing, Guangdong Province, is a leading bridge-engineering expert, member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, the American National Academy of Engineering, and chairman of T.Y. Lin International Engineering Consulting (China) Co., LTD. At the age of 86, Deng has led the design and participated in the design and construction of more than 100 Bridges around the world, six of which have set world records.
US-based Engineering News Record, selected him as one of the top 125 people who have made contributions to engineering in the past 125 years. In 2008, he received the National "Friendship Award" from the Chinese government.


Chongqing Must Be the Best Place
Deng Wenzhong was born in 1938 in Zhaoqing, Guangdong province. He spent his childhood in the midst of the war of resistance and 11 years struggling to survive. In 1949, he went to Hong Kong to study and in 1959, Deng won a scholarship to study in Germany. In 1965, he graduated from the Technical University of Damm, Germany, with a doctor's degree in engineering, and in 1979, with reform and opening up, he was invited to return to China as a foreign bridge-engineering expert.
Deng Wenzhong's roots are in China, and it is his greatest wish to design for the country. A booming China needed to build more bridges and Chongqing, became the place for him to display his talents.
Deng Wenzhong still remembers the scene of his first visit to Chongqing: "I first came to Chongqing in 1985, and I thought Chongqing was very beautiful. Although the city was very old at that time, there were mountains and rivers, and if you constructed a bridge, you had the opportunity to make something very beautiful." In 1994, T.Y. Lin International China was founded in Chongqing with Deng as its chairman. "When I was starting the company, I did research in many major cities, and I found that the people in Chongqing were the least exclusive," he says. Historically, many people from outside the city have come to Chongqing. So if we want to do business, Chongqing must be the best place."


The Development of Chongqing is Happening Simultaneously With Ours
Three years after T.Y. Lin International China was founded, the municipality of Chongqing was officially established, and construction of bridges in the municipality sped up. These cross-river Bridges became an important passageway for Chongqing's urban transportation. At present, 37 cross-river Bridges have been built in the central urban area of Chongqing.
The Caiyuanba Yangtze River Bridge, opened to traffic in October 2007, is like a rainbow on the Yangtze River. It is light, slim, agile and beautiful, connecting Chongqing Yuzhong District and Nanan District closely. When Caiyuanba Yangtze River Bridge was opened to traffic, it was the longest dual-purpose public rail arch bridge in the world.
It is a bridge with special meaning in Deng Wenzhong's life. "Caiyuanba Yangtze River Bridge is the first bridge in the world, and this bridge is the first bridge in China that I truly presided over and designed by myself," Deng said. "Her beauty lies in her elegance, which is tailor-made for Chongqing."
Deng Wenzhong is proud of the development of Chongqing's bridge industry and he has witnessed great changes in Chongqing. He and his colleagues have designed more than 20 bridges. Among them, Caiyuanba Yangtze River Bridge and Dongshuimen Yangtze River Bridge are Deng Wenzhong's masterpieces.
"We are growing at the same time as Chongqing." Mr. Deng said.


Beauty is the Soul of the Bridge
Deng Wenzhong has presided over and participated in the design of more than 100 Bridges on five ontinents in the world, many of which are world-record holders.
Beauty is an important criterion for Deng.
"If the bridge is not beautiful, it is equivalent to polluting the city."
"For example, if you build a tall building in the center of Chongqing, not many people will pay attention because there are so many tall buildings. But a bridge is different. A bridge is built on a river, lake or sea, and the surrounding environment is relatively empty, so it will attract everyone's attention." "If the bridge is not beautiful, it will pollute the city. "And the pollution can't be removed, it's just like this when it's done, and it may be there for decades or centuries."
Deng Wenzhong believes that the Dongshuimen Yangtze River Bridge and Qiansimen Jialing River Bridge in Chongqing are a pair of "sister Bridges": "The Liangjiang Bridge is located in the intersection of the two rivers, three districts and four banks in Chongqing, so it must be integrated with the different landscape environment of the three districts and four banks." Deng Wenzhong said that the two Bridges should be very impressive, but not too much attention, obstructing the viewing vision of the surrounding areas. Later, in consideration of the location of the Liangjiang Bridge and its relationship with the Yuzhong Peninsula, the bridge adopted a partial cable-stayed beam bridge as a structural form. The shape of the bridge tower is like "Tissot", the lines are smooth, like a girl standing tall.
"I think Chongqing's Bridges are better, more numerous and more advanced than any other city in China." "Mr. Deng said.


Baijusi Yangtze River Bridge


Caiyuanba Yangtze River Bridge


Dongshuimen Yangtze River Bridge


The Development of Chongqing will be Brilliant
Referring to his feelings for Chongqing, Deng Wenzhong said, "I think Chongqing will be very successful. Last year, Chongqing was officially selected as the world's 'Design Capital', becoming the fifth 'Design capital' in China and the first 'Design capital' in the western region, which will add a world-class name card to Chongqing. Chongqing is a very young city, and many new things have been pioneered in Chongqing. I believe the development of Chongqing will be brilliant." Deng Wenzhong is still designing more Bridges and writing more legends for this "home". His name does not appear on them, and citizens may not know that the Bridges around him are from him. But years later, when these Bridges become "cultural relics", the docents may proudly introduce them: "This was designed by Dr. Deng Wenzhong, and the sun still shines on his bridge."


Text: Chongqing Daily and T.Y. Lin International Engineering Consulting (China) Co., LTD
Original author: Zhao Yingzhao, Huang Jun
Photos: T.Y. Lin International Engineering Consulting (China) Co., LTD.