Chinese artist's creation 'golden bridge' sparkle at Milan Expo

A giant golden bridge-shaped structure created by a modern Chinese artist was unveiled at the site of the ongoing Milan Expo on Monday.

The giant sculpture entitled "Silk-Road on Golden Bridge", designed by Chinese artist Shu Yong, is seen at the Milan Expo, Italy, Sept. 28, 2015. The bridge sculpture inaugurated on Monday at Milan Expo is 28 meters long and made of 20,000 golden bricks the same size as those used to make the Great Wall of China. (Xinhua/Str.)

The "Golden Bridge on Silk Road", measuring 28 meters in length and six meters in height, is intended to be interpreted as a cultural bridge between the East and the West, as well as a symbol of friendship, its designer Shu Yong said in an interview via telephone.

The 41-year-old artist referred to the structure of Zhaozhou Bridge when he started to build the artistic structure. Zhaozhou Bridge is a well-known bridge which was built over 1,400 years ago in north China and is still in use today.

To construct his bridge, Shu used disposable metals and 20,000 golden bricks the same size as those used to make the Great Wall.

The golden bricks are made of artificial amber that enables people to see different silk flowers inside. Those silk flowers are symbols of hundreds of sites along the land and maritime Silk Road.

In an earlier interview, Shu admitted he was inspired by the China-proposed "Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road" initiative when building the bridge.

The Belt and Road initiative was proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013 as a trade and infrastructure network. It will connect Asia to Europe and Africa through the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, and is aimed at improving infrastructure, financial cooperation and cultural exchanges.