Solar　radiation　is　one　of　the　most　important　factors　influencing　the　temperature　distribution　on　bridge　girder　cross-sections.　The　bridge　temperature　distribution　can　be　estimated　using　estimation　models　that　incorporate　solar　radiation　data;　however,　such　data　could　be　cost-or　time-prohibitive　to　obtain.　A　review　of　literature　was　carried　out　on　estimation　models　for　solar　radiation　parameters,　including　the　global　solar　radiation,　beam　solar　radiation　and　diffuse　solar　radiation.　Solar　radiation　data　from　eight　cities　in　Fujian　Province　in　southeastern　China　were　obtained　on　site.　Solar　radiation　models　applicable　to　Fujian,　China　were　proposed　and　verified　using　the　measured　data.　The　linear　Angstrom-Page　model　(based　on　sunshine　duration)　can　be　used　to　estimate　the　daily　global　solar　radiation.　The　Collares-Pereira　and　Rabl　model　and　the　Hottel　model　can　be　used　to　estimate　the　hourly　global　solar　radiation　and　the　beam　solar　radiation,　respectively.　Three　bridges　were　chosen　as　case　study,　for　which　the　temperature　distribution　on　girder　cross-sections　were　monitored　on　site.　Finite　element　models　(FEM)　of　cross-sections　of　bridge　girders　were　implemented　using　the　Midas　program.　The　temperature-time　curves　obtained　from　FEM　showed　very　close　agreement　with　the　measured　values　for　summertime.　Ignoring　the　solar　radiation　effect　would　result　in　lower　and　delayed　temperature　peaks.　However,　the　influence　of　solar　radiation　on　the　temperature　distribution　in　winter　is　negligible.