Beijing Hotels near Marco Polo Bridge

The bridge dates back to the late 12th century and the Jin Dynasty. A collection of stone lion sculptures on either side of the bridge stand out as the most memorable and distinctive feature of Marco Polo Bridge. Rebuilt at the turn of the 18th century, the Yongding River span is a remarkable and undeniable architectural masterpiece. Indeed, Marco Polo’s diary entry description of Lugou Bridge is as apt today as it was in the 13th century: Over this river there is a very fine stone bridge, so fine indeed, that it has very few equals in the world.

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Marco Polo Bridge is 15 km southwest of central Beijing. Wanping Fortress is a remarkable 17th century castle adjacent to the bridge.

The bridge is most famous as the site of a confrontation that led to the Sino-Japanese war, from 1937 to 1945.