Zhang Jinwen

Director of Engineering of the HZMB Authority Joined the project in 2004

When he arrived at the preparatory office of the HZMB project at the age of 29, Zhang Jinwen left his position as deputy director of the Engineering Department at Guangdong Provincial Expressway Development Co., Ltd., giving up a promising future in the company. At first, many questioned how he, a novice at bridge construction, could be appointed chief engineering supervisor. His actions across years have provided an answer.

Since the construction of the bridge is finished, what will he do next? “I have no idea because I haven’t yet found a more challenging project,” Zhang grins. He plans to summarize the experience first and to leave it for posterity. “We salute our predecessors with the project and hope it can serve as a ‘shoulder’ to subsequent generations.”

In his opinion, a bridge will be remembered as an icon of the times. The bridge represents the comprehensive strength of the country and serves as a symbol of the achievement of the reform and opening-up policy which has been implemented for 40 years. “What we did is not actually so great—we just did what engineers should do.”