The Jiefang Bridge in Tianjin parts in the middle on Monday night, July 1, 2019. [Photo/tjyun.com]

Thousands of people gathered along the Haihe River on July 1 to witness the stunning sight of the drawing of Jiefang bridge, a rare view even for local residents.

Built in 1927, Jiefang Bridge used to be called Wanguo Bridge which means "international bridge". The 96.7-meter double-leaf bascule bridge was designed to draw apart in the middle in three minutes to accommodate traffic on the Haihe River.

According to records, since the completion of the bridge on October 18, 1927 to the end of 1936, it was opened a total of 2058 times.

It hadn't opened since 1973 due to rusty girders and an outdated transmission system and didn't resume its drawbridge function until 2008 after two years of reconstruction.

In August 2017 it was lit by lights and opened to welcome the National Games. A cruise ship shuttled under the opened bridge. Hundreds of people on both sides of the river holding torches added to the beautiful night lights on both sides of the straits.

As the most famous landmark in Tianjin, today's Jiefang Bridge is not only a traffic channel but also a unique landmark on the Haihe River. In the future, the bridge will open on major festivals.

The Jiefang Bridge in Tianjin parts in the middle on Monday night, July 1, 2019. [Photo/tjyun.com]

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The Jiefang Bridge in Tianjin parts in the middle on Monday night, July 1, 2019.[Photo/tjyun.com]

The Jiefang Bridge in Tianjin parts in the middle on Monday night, July 1, 2019. [Photo/tjyun.com]

An ariel view of Jiefang Bridge on Haihe River. [Photo/tjyun.com]