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50 ancient bridges span history in 'hometown of bridges'
April 25, 2009, Saturday
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Once there were 186 stone bridges in what is now Jinshan District, known as the "hometown of bridges." Today there are more than 50 ancient stone bridges to cross, recross and appreciate.
The district in the southwest of the city is crisscrossed with rivers and streams, dotted with ponds. The Huangpu River lies to the west and Hangzhou Bay to the south. For centuries, canals were a major means of transport and watertowns sprang up.
A weekend tour of ancient stone bridges is a fascinating dip into the district's history, packed with enchanting tales.
According to the Jinshan Almanac compiled during the Guangxu times during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), there were 186 stone bridges in the area.
Today, more than 50 ancient stone bridges, including arch bridges, remain in the district's nine towns and villages. They demonstrate the engineering skills and the artistry of generations past.
Famous Jizhong Bridge, or the Xin Bridge as locals call it, was built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) in Zhujing Town. The north-south span on the Shihe River is made of wukang stone, purple-brown and rough in texture. It's 23.5 meters long and 8 meters high; the arch is 4.1 meters high; 19 steps on each side lead to the span.
As legend has it, well-situated Zhujing Town was prosperous and thriving with its food making, homespun cloth and crafts. But as it was built on both banks of the Shihe River, transport was a problem. Bridges of wood and stone were built but all of them collapsed.
During the Hongwu period (1368-1398) in the Ming Dynasty, the government again ordered a bridge to be built. It decreed that if the project failed, the workers would pay with their lives.
No matter how hard the workers tried, however, they could not drive a stone support, an abutment, into the ground. A mysterious traveling monk appeared, claimed he had a solution: sacrifice a boy and bury him beneath the abutment.
To save his fellows' lives, worker Wu prepared to sacrifice his five-year-old son and took him to the bridge site. As he prepared to kill his son, the monk declared that the boy's hat could be substituted.
The bridge was constructed, safe and steady. To thank the monk, locals named the bridge after his monastic name, Jizhong, which means saving the people.
Running through Zhujing Town, the Shihe River extends into nearby Fengjing, another old town dating back 1,500 years. More than 10 ancient stone bridges are maintained today, including the Zhihe Bridge built in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). It's the oldest one in town and is said to predate the settlement itself.
The single-arch Zhihe Bridge, 15 meters long and 5 meters tall, is made of wukang stone and granite.
Once a temple was built on the bridge and newly wed couples would go there to pray for blessings after the wedding ceremony. They made three kowtows on every step of the bridal bridge.
At each end there are carvings of two dragons chasing a flaming pearl, symbolizing happiness.
Not far from the Zhihe Bridge is Qingfeng Bridge. Qingfeng means "breeze," and refers to an uncorrupted official with clean hands. The span was constructed to memorialize a former official named Chen Shunyu in the Song Dynasty (960-1279).
Chen, a royal court official, was disgusted with corruption and quit, returning to his hometown Fengjing and becoming a hermit. He donated all his savings and belongings to charity and building public facilities.
The bridge was named "Qingfeng" to express their thanks.
Jinshan District is crisscrossed with rivers and streams, and with fascinating stone arch bridges that are feats of engineering and artistry. Tan Weiyuan visits the city's "hometown of bridges."
More old bridges
Shoudai Bridge
The single-arch stone bridge in Luxiang Town was built in the Song Dynasty and renovated in the Ming Dynasty, then renovated again after 1949. It's 24 meters from north to south, and it's 4 meters wide. The abutments are carved with eight lions.
Xianglong Bridge
Built in Qing Dynasty, the single-arch granite bridge in Caojing Town crosses the Jiangzhuang River. It is 19.5 meters long, 2.3 meters wide and 2.55 meters high. "Xianglong" means "auspicious dragon."
Bazi Bridge
Built by Gao Huang in Jinshanwei Town, the bridge over the Muligang River is 16.4 meters long, 1.86 meters wide, and 2.85 meters tall.
Beifeng Bridge
Built in 1489, the granite span is also called Tongjin Bridge. It was damaged in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1937-45) and renovated in 2003. It's 14.3 meters long and 4 meters wide.
Shantang Bridge
The three-arch granite bridge built in Qing Dynasty divides Jinshan District and Pinghu City of Zhejing Province. It was renovated in 1954. It's 23.7 meters long and 2.13 meters wide.
The district in the southwest of the city is crisscrossed with rivers and streams, dotted with ponds. The Huangpu River lies to the west and Hangzhou Bay to the south. For centuries, canals were a major means of transport and watertowns sprang up.
A weekend tour of ancient stone bridges is a fascinating dip into the district's history, packed with enchanting tales.
According to the Jinshan Almanac compiled during the Guangxu times during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), there were 186 stone bridges in the area.
Today, more than 50 ancient stone bridges, including arch bridges, remain in the district's nine towns and villages. They demonstrate the engineering skills and the artistry of generations past.
Famous Jizhong Bridge, or the Xin Bridge as locals call it, was built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) in Zhujing Town. The north-south span on the Shihe River is made of wukang stone, purple-brown and rough in texture. It's 23.5 meters long and 8 meters high; the arch is 4.1 meters high; 19 steps on each side lead to the span.
As legend has it, well-situated Zhujing Town was prosperous and thriving with its food making, homespun cloth and crafts. But as it was built on both banks of the Shihe River, transport was a problem. Bridges of wood and stone were built but all of them collapsed.
During the Hongwu period (1368-1398) in the Ming Dynasty, the government again ordered a bridge to be built. It decreed that if the project failed, the workers would pay with their lives.
No matter how hard the workers tried, however, they could not drive a stone support, an abutment, into the ground. A mysterious traveling monk appeared, claimed he had a solution: sacrifice a boy and bury him beneath the abutment.
To save his fellows' lives, worker Wu prepared to sacrifice his five-year-old son and took him to the bridge site. As he prepared to kill his son, the monk declared that the boy's hat could be substituted.
The bridge was constructed, safe and steady. To thank the monk, locals named the bridge after his monastic name, Jizhong, which means saving the people.
Running through Zhujing Town, the Shihe River extends into nearby Fengjing, another old town dating back 1,500 years. More than 10 ancient stone bridges are maintained today, including the Zhihe Bridge built in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). It's the oldest one in town and is said to predate the settlement itself.
The single-arch Zhihe Bridge, 15 meters long and 5 meters tall, is made of wukang stone and granite.
Once a temple was built on the bridge and newly wed couples would go there to pray for blessings after the wedding ceremony. They made three kowtows on every step of the bridal bridge.
At each end there are carvings of two dragons chasing a flaming pearl, symbolizing happiness.
Not far from the Zhihe Bridge is Qingfeng Bridge. Qingfeng means "breeze," and refers to an uncorrupted official with clean hands. The span was constructed to memorialize a former official named Chen Shunyu in the Song Dynasty (960-1279).
Chen, a royal court official, was disgusted with corruption and quit, returning to his hometown Fengjing and becoming a hermit. He donated all his savings and belongings to charity and building public facilities.
The bridge was named "Qingfeng" to express their thanks.
Jinshan District is crisscrossed with rivers and streams, and with fascinating stone arch bridges that are feats of engineering and artistry. Tan Weiyuan visits the city's "hometown of bridges."
More old bridges
Shoudai Bridge
The single-arch stone bridge in Luxiang Town was built in the Song Dynasty and renovated in the Ming Dynasty, then renovated again after 1949. It's 24 meters from north to south, and it's 4 meters wide. The abutments are carved with eight lions.
Xianglong Bridge
Built in Qing Dynasty, the single-arch granite bridge in Caojing Town crosses the Jiangzhuang River. It is 19.5 meters long, 2.3 meters wide and 2.55 meters high. "Xianglong" means "auspicious dragon."
Bazi Bridge
Built by Gao Huang in Jinshanwei Town, the bridge over the Muligang River is 16.4 meters long, 1.86 meters wide, and 2.85 meters tall.
Beifeng Bridge
Built in 1489, the granite span is also called Tongjin Bridge. It was damaged in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1937-45) and renovated in 2003. It's 14.3 meters long and 4 meters wide.
Shantang Bridge
The three-arch granite bridge built in Qing Dynasty divides Jinshan District and Pinghu City of Zhejing Province. It was renovated in 1954. It's 23.7 meters long and 2.13 meters wide.
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