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Rich heritage of ancient bridges
By Zhang Lichun and Pan Zheng |
June 29, 2009, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
LOCATED on the coast of the East China Sea, Jiading is a typical water town in southern China. A lot of bridges have been built in Jiading since the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) and some are still in use today.
In Jiading, most ancient bridges are built in the beautiful arch style, which allow for greater height for boats to pass under.
There were over 400 bridges in Jiading at the beginning of the last century, however only 58 retain their original appearances.
Most of them were built in the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, with a few from the Yuan (1271-1368) and Song (960-1279) dynasties.
The bridges are mostly located in the centers of Jiading's towns. There used to be 22 bridges over the Lianqi River and the Hengli River by the end of the Qing Dynasty. The famous ones, such as the Denglong Bridge, the Taiping Bridge in Nanxiang Town and the Yansi Bridge in Anting Town, are all located in the town centers.
However with modern development, some of the ancient bridges did not survive and some, such as the Guangping Bridge, the Gongbao Bridge and the Zhengxian Bridge, which were built in the Song Dynasty, were removed in 1970.
But most bridges have survived, although their appearance has changed. In Jiading, there used to be some grand ancient arch bridges.
Ying'en Bridge, a stone bridge with three arches in Huangdu Town, was built in 1699. With 50 steps on both sides of the bridge, it towered over the residential houses.
Standing on the bridge, people could take in the whole surrounding landscape. However, it was rebuilt as a single arched bridge with steel and concrete and renamed the Dongfeng Bridge.
Also, there was the Qianqiu Bridge which was built in 1759 and was designated one of the Top 8 attractions of Huangdu Town. In 1937, it was damaged by the Japanese army and repaired as a level stone bridge. But in 1983, it was finally removed and a new concrete arch bridge was built west of the original site.
The heritage of the ancient bridges, whether removed or preserved, all reflect the area's history.
In Jiading, most ancient bridges are built in the beautiful arch style, which allow for greater height for boats to pass under.
There were over 400 bridges in Jiading at the beginning of the last century, however only 58 retain their original appearances.
Most of them were built in the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, with a few from the Yuan (1271-1368) and Song (960-1279) dynasties.
The bridges are mostly located in the centers of Jiading's towns. There used to be 22 bridges over the Lianqi River and the Hengli River by the end of the Qing Dynasty. The famous ones, such as the Denglong Bridge, the Taiping Bridge in Nanxiang Town and the Yansi Bridge in Anting Town, are all located in the town centers.
However with modern development, some of the ancient bridges did not survive and some, such as the Guangping Bridge, the Gongbao Bridge and the Zhengxian Bridge, which were built in the Song Dynasty, were removed in 1970.
But most bridges have survived, although their appearance has changed. In Jiading, there used to be some grand ancient arch bridges.
Ying'en Bridge, a stone bridge with three arches in Huangdu Town, was built in 1699. With 50 steps on both sides of the bridge, it towered over the residential houses.
Standing on the bridge, people could take in the whole surrounding landscape. However, it was rebuilt as a single arched bridge with steel and concrete and renamed the Dongfeng Bridge.
Also, there was the Qianqiu Bridge which was built in 1759 and was designated one of the Top 8 attractions of Huangdu Town. In 1937, it was damaged by the Japanese army and repaired as a level stone bridge. But in 1983, it was finally removed and a new concrete arch bridge was built west of the original site.
The heritage of the ancient bridges, whether removed or preserved, all reflect the area's history.
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