How big is Hangzhou? Marlene from Austria is quite familiar with the answer to this question. Living in the CBD of Qianjiang New Town, she rides a bike through Qianjiang Third Bridge (Xixing Bridge) to the skyscrapers-filled Binjiang District where she works every day.

Marlene came to Hangzhou from Beijing to settle down after graduation. Marlene likes to share her life in Hangzhou with foreign friends on the internet. Once she posted a photo that she was riding her bike on the bridge on the social network, which attracted many netizens.

“In business wear, I ride on a bike through the bridge every day. Many passersby find me strange, but I enjoy it and say hello to the workers.” For Marlene, cycling is not only a way of exercising but also a fun experience to embrace the spectacular view from the bridge.

The majestic Qiantang River flows through downtown Hangzhou from southeast to northwest. Ten bridges, including the increasingly strong Qiantang River Bridge to the brilliant Fuxing Bridge and the aspirational Zhijiang Bridge, span over the river and connect the past and the future of the city.

To decode the secrets of the bridge, Marlene visited the Qiantang River Bridge Memorial Hall and listened to the stories of the Qianjiang First Bridge told by the narrator. The torrential Qiantang River was predicted by foreign experts that bridge construction was impossible. However, the Qiantang River Bridge designed and constructed by the Chinese people made history.  

Marlene sighed with emotion that there was a time span of 54 years between the first bridge built in 1937 and the second bridge built in 1991, yet the subsequent bridge construction speed was as inspirational as Hangzhou’s development speed. Now on the north bank of Qiantang River in Hangzhou’s CBD and on its south bank is the venue of the main stadium for the Asian Games in Hangzhou.

In the eye of Marlene, these bridges reflect the spirit of striving and solidarity of the Chinese people. She is happy to live in Hangzhou.

The “Discover Hangzhou” series of short videos, part of the Hangzhou Stories told by Foreigners Program jointly undertaken by the Office of Cyberspace Affairs Commission of Hangzhou and “In Zhejiang” has been launched on www.inzhejiang.com. The 8 episodes will tell you the fascinating stories of Hangzhou from a fresh perspective. 

Producer: Zhang Yuyi, Zhou Yi, Xue Yi

Video: Xuan Zexing, Ye Ke

Translation: Ye Ke