For a period it was a must-see for foreign state leaders who visited Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu province, more than 600 foreign delegates visiting the site between 1968 and 1999.

Because the bridge was opened during the "cultural revolution" (1966-76), it has often been linked with that red age. Its link with that era is indelible in the minds of many people, reinforced by the Soviet-style statues of workers, farmers and soldiers and sculptured waving red flags that adorn the bridge.

The time for more flag waving is now upon us, for the 50th anniversary of the bridge's opening, and we can be sure that amid the fanfare, the bridge will look better than it has since the day it was inaugurated.

That is thanks to a huge renovation project for which the 4,500-meter-long bridge was totally closed two years ago, after 48 years serving as an artery for the Beijing-Shanghai Railway and as road transport for Nanjing. Its reopening by the end of the year will, of course, coincide with that anniversary.

On the eve of the jubilee Lu Andong, 41, chair professor in the School of Architecture and Urban Planning at Nanjing University, is looking forward to arousing people's collective memories about the bridge and heralding its reopening in unusual ways.