The Qiantang River Bridge was the first dual-purpose road and railway bridge. Led by Mao Yi-sheng (1896-1989), it opened to traffic in 1937 but was soon destroyed to prevent Japanese advance during the war. Repaired and reopened in 1946, the bridge faced another threat in 1949 during the Chinese Civil War, when Nationalist forces once again prepared to demolish it to halt the Communist advance. A written order from battalion commander Zhong Chao-hong (active in 1949; exact dates unknown) to company commander Zhao Yong-ru (active in 1949; exact dates unknown) highlights the urgency of the situation. Having endured multiple wars, the bridge stands as a witness to pivotal moments in history and holds lasting significance in the development of modern Chinese bridge engineering.