During the summer vacation, families across China are flocking to museums, turning cultural outings into a hot trend. One of the most popular destinations is the Yellow River Bridge Museum in Lanzhou, Gansu—the country’s only museum dedicated entirely to bridges spanning the mighty Yellow River.

The crown jewels of the collection are the original steel beams from the Lanzhou Yellow River Iron Bridge (built in 1907), century-old construction blueprints, and rare historical photographs. As the first bridge in China’s northwest to use foreign engineering techniques, this landmark holds a special place in the nation’s infrastructure history. The artifacts offer a fascinating glimpse into the ambitious feat of building an iron bridge over the Yellow River’s raging currents more than 100 years ago.

The museum has also rolled out interactive workshops, helping visitors of all ages appreciate not just the bridges’ engineering brilliance but also the perseverance and innovation behind them. Many leave impressed, calling it “an eye-opening journey through China’s industrial heritage.”