The Great Chinese Bridge is one of the historical bridges Alexander Park of the former Tsarskoye Selo (now the Pushkin city of St. Petersburg).
The Big Chinese Bridge is the most beautiful and popular bridge among the guests of the park.
It is located on the main axis of the Alexander Park and is located at the central entrance to the park, on the side of the parade ground at Catherine Palace - opposite the Golden Gate of the palace.
The bridge is decorated with granite vases and bright Chinese figures.
The bridge was built in 1785 by the architect Charles Cameron. The construction was carried out during the reign of Empress Catherine II, who was fond of Chinese culture.
This is a small bridge, which is made of pink granite.
The fences of the bridge consist of 13 granite vases, from which iron forged branches made in the form of curved pink corals fall and intertwine with each other.
Also in the architecture of the bridge fences there are four pedestals (two on each side of the bridge), on which brightly colored figures of Chinese people with lanterns are placed. The sculptures of the Chinese were originally limestone, but they became dilapidated in the 1860s and were replaced with zinc, polychrome painted and made at the Genke, Pleske and Moran factory. The work was carried out under the supervision of the court architect I. A. Monighetti. During the Great Patriotic War, the sculptures of the bridge were destroyed and recreated from archival photos by 2010.
From the bridge, the Cross Canal of the park and the Cross Bridge are clearly visible, which is famous for the fact that despite its small size, the bridge seems monumental due to well-found proportions. Learn more about the Cross Bridge...
Practical information
The Great Chinese Bridge is located in Alexander Park, Pushkin, St. Petersburg.
The Alexander Park, together with the Alexander Palace, belong to the State Museum-Reserve "Tsarskoye Selo".
Entrance to the park is free (free of charge).
We recommend checking the working hours of the park, as well as the conditions of visiting, on the website of the State Museum-Reserve "Tsarskoye Selo": tzar.ru.
You can visit Tsarskoye Selo with one of the excursions
You can find out about all the ways to get to Pushkin from St. Petersburg (the airport and the city center) here →
In Pushkin (Tsarskoye Selo) you can stay
The 5-star Pevcheskaya Tower Hotel offers restaurants, a bar, a rooftop observation deck, free Wi-Fi and parking.
Breakfast is included in the room rate. Link to the hotel
The 5-star luxury spa hotel "Tsar Palace Luxury Hotel & SPA"is located in a historic building.
The hotelhas a spa center with a swimming pool, a hammam, a salt sauna, a snow fountain, steam baths and a gym; free Wi-Fi, a 24-hour front desk, 2 restaurants, a lobby bar, private parking and meeting and conference rooms.
The rooms are equipped with climate control, a mini-bar, a safe and a private bathroom.
A buffet breakfast is included in the room rate. Link to the hotel
3-star hotel Ekaterina, located on the territory of the Catherine Palace and Park Ensemble.
The hotelhas a 24-hour front desk, a cafe, free Wi-Fi and parking.
The rooms are equipped with airconditioning, a TV, a work desk and free toiletries.
Breakfast is included in the room rate. Link to the hotel
All accommodation facilities in St. Petersburg, including in the city center and in Pushkin, can be viewed and booked here
