'Friendship Bridge' Links Henan, Hubei

Staff members open a roadblock on the border of Panguanzhuang village in Henan and Zhaiwan village in Hubei to transport daily necessaries for villagers in Zhaiwan on Tuesday. [Photo by Wang Dongan for chinadaily.com.cn]

A bridge located on the border of Central China's Henan and Hubei provinces has become the only way for residents in Zhaiwan village, Hubei, to get their daily supplies since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.

The bridge linking Panguanzhuang village, Wuxing town, Henan with Zhaiwan is also called "Friendship Bridge" by both sides because it has built friendship and affection between the two villages since its construction.

Before the epidemic, villagers in Zhaiwan usually bought necessities from markets in Wuxing.

Due to epidemic prevention and control measures, the two villages set up roadblocks at both ends of the bridge, which caused great difficulties for Zhaiwan villagers.

In order to help solve the problems, Panguanzhuang decided to set a temporary market on the bridge every three to five days, providing daily necessaries for Zhaiwan in order to ensure the safety of both sides.

A truck loaded with daily necessaries is ready for transport from Panguanzhuang village to Zhaiwan village on Tuesday. [Photo by Wang Dongan for chinadaily.com.cn]

"To guarantee Zhaiwan villagers' normal life without trapping them with the epidemic, we promoted active cooperation with the Zhaiwan village committee," said Zhang Liuhe, a village cadre from Panguanzhuang. "We purchased commodities according to the list they sent us and then transported them to the bridge after disinfection."

"We finished the whole process via telephone and WeChat without meeting, which can ensure absolute security," he added.

Zhai Guanghua, a villager from Zhaiwan,, had planned to travel out for work with all his family members after the Spring Festival, so he didn't prepare too much food in advance.

"The sudden epidemic changed all my plans and we had to face a food shortage," he said. "Thanks to the Henan fellow-villagers for sending us noodles and steamed buns, otherwise we would really go hungry."

"In this special period, we are so grateful to receive great help from a neighboring village," said Zhai Qunzhan, secretary of Zhaiwan. "We believe we can finally win the battle against the virus."