How shocking the ancient Chinese bridge is! (photo gallery)

Hongqiao Bridge(虹桥), literally means bridge of rainbow, in Fenghuang Ancient Town, Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hunan Province, photographer Shen xinhong(沈欣洪)▼

Please watch horizontally, Hangzhou West Lake Jindai Bridge(锦带桥), photographer Hu Han(胡寒)▼

Distribution of major ancient bridges in China, mapping Chen Zhihan(陈志浩)/xingqiuyanjiusuo▼

00 Poems about the bridge

Bridges not only exist in real life to help people gather and communicate, it also constitutes a fascinating poetic world.

A little reverie, “As you are enjoying the scenery on a bridge, Upstairs on a tower people are watching you.“Poems from Bian Zhilin(卞之琳)’s “Part of Article”(《断章》), Translated from William Wang(宛城卧龙).

The stone bridge in Chengkan Town(呈坎镇), Huizhou District, Huangshan City, Anhui Province, photographer Wang Yuankun(王昆远)▼

A kind of sadness, “Over old trees wreathed with rotten vines fly evening crows; Under a small bridge near a cottage a stream flows” The poem comes from Ma Zhiyuan(马致远)’s “Sunny Sand · Autumn Thoughts”(《天净沙·秋思》) in Yuan Dynasty.

Hangzhou West Lake Yadi Bridge(压堤桥), photographer Feiyu(非渔)▼

Also a trace of love, “Their tender love flows like a stream; Their happy date seems but a dream. How can they bear a separate homeward way?” The poem comes from Qin Guan(秦观)’s “Immortals at the Magpie Bridge · Slim Cloud Makes a Clever”(《鹊桥仙·纤云弄巧》)in Song Dynasty.

The stone bridge in Lijiang City, Yunnan Province, photographer Liu Zhuming(刘珠明)▼

Let us explore the ultimate beauty of the ancient bridge.

01 Origin of Ancient Bridge

The essence of the bridge is to connect. As an “airway” to communicate between the two sides, it is its mission.

The ancient bridge in Wuzhen, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, photographer Li Liqun(李力群)▼

The bridge presents ever-changing appearances in different natural environments.

Zip-line bridge

There are deep valleys in southwest China, and the ropes and iron cables connecting the two sides of the river are the best choice for crossing the river.

The single zipline on the Nujiang River is located near Liuku Village(六库村), Lushui County(泸水县), Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan. Photographer Rui Jing(芮京)▼

Pontoon bridge

People try to connect the boats to each other where the current is slightly slower, and the floating bridge is used as a floating bridge between the two banks.

Guangji Bridge(广济桥) in Chaozhou, Guangdong, was built in the Southern Song Dynasty in 1171 AD. It was originally a pontoon bridge. Now it integrates a girder bridge and a pontoon bridge. The pontoon bridge can be opened for the passage of large ships. The picture below shows the splicing site of the pontoon bridge. Photographer Lin Yuxian(林宇先)▼

In an era without steel and concrete, pontoon bridges can overcome difficulties in the face of super-large rivers such as the Yangtze River and the Yellow River, and the moat can become a thoroughfare.

Distribution map of ancient floating bridges on the Yangtze River and Yellow River in history, no longer exists now, mapping Chen Zhihan(陈志浩)/xingqiuyanjiusuo▼

Beam bridge

More bridges use beams as the main load-bearing structure. Some single-wood bridges, some erect stones for crossing.

The stone bridge of Tianping Mountain(天平山) in Suzhou, photographer Zhao Yongqing(赵永清)▼

Timber pile wooden bridge

Shouzhai Bridge(守寨桥) of Tang’an Dong Village(堂安侗寨), Zhaoxing Town(肇兴乡), Liping County(黎平县), Guizhou Province, photographer Chen Junyu(陈俊宇)▼

Please watch it horizontally. The Hongji Bridge(宏济桥) in Lishui, Zhejiang, was built in the Ming Dynasty. Under the bridge is an X-shaped support. Photographer Lu Wen(卢文)▼

Stone pier wooden bridge

The ancients used more durable stone instead of wood to make bridge piers, which are stone piers and wooden beam bridges.

Schematic diagram of a stone pier and wooden beam bridge using pile foundation technology, drawing Wang Shenwen(王申雯)/xingqiuyanjiusuo▼

The ship-shaped piers weaken the impact of the current with their sharp facing surface, making the piers more stable. The Caihong Bridge(彩虹桥) in Wuyuan, Jiangxi Province, was built in the Southern Song Dynasty. It suffered floods this year and was partially damaged. Photographer Wang Yi(王毅)▼

Outrigger wooden bridge

Yunlong Bridge(云龙桥) in Liancheng, Fujian, built in the Qing Dynasty, photographer Liu Yanhui(刘艳晖)▼

Longfeng Bridge(龙凤桥), Tuanzhuang Village(团庄村), Pingluo Town(平洛镇), Kang County(康县), Gansu Province, photographer Wu Weiping(吴卫平)▼

Hezuohua Bridge(合作化桥), Shifang Second Village(石坊二村), Shifang Township(石坊乡), Wen County(文县), Gansu Province, photographer Wu Weiping(吴卫平)▼

Yongshun Bridge(永顺桥), Huaban Village(花板村), Maoba Township(毛坝乡), Lichuan City, Hubei Province, photographer Wu Weiping(吴卫平)▼

Wooden arch bridge

Schematic diagram of wooden arch bridge structure, drawing Wang Shenwen(王申雯)/ingqiuyanjiusuo▼

Baiyun Bridge(白云桥), Jushui Township(举水乡), Qingyuan County(庆元县), Lishui City, Zhejiang Province, was built in the Ming Dynasty by photographer Wu Weiping(吴卫平)▼

The ancient bridge in Houlong Village(后垄村), Zhouning County(周宁县), Ningde City, Fujian Province, is a wooden arch bridge. Photographer Lin Zuxian(林祖贤)▼

Jielong Bridge(接龙桥), Zhangkeng Village(章坑村), Dongkeng Town(东坑镇), Lishui City, Zhejiang Province, Photographer Wu Weiping(吴卫平)▼

02 Stone Bridge

Stone beam bridge

Stone Bridge in Jinyun County(缙云县), Lishui City, Zhejiang Province, Photographer Zhao Yongqing(赵永清)▼

The nine-turn bridge in Yuyuan Garden in Shanghai after snow, photographer Shi Tianjin(石天金)▼

Hangzhou West Lake Yudai Bridge(玉带桥), Photographer Hu Han(胡寒)▼

Luoyang Bridge(洛阳桥) in Quanzhou, Fujian, is the earliest sea-crossing stone bridge in China, crossing over the Luoyang River(洛阳河) where it meets the sea. Photographer Wu Yuchuan(雾雨川)▼

Anping Bridge(安平桥) in Quanzhou, Fujian, was built in the Southern Song Dynasty by photographer Jiang Qingfang(姜青芳)▼

Stone arch bridge

Force analysis of circular arch, drawing Wang Shenwen(王申雯)/ingqiuyanjiusuo▼

The bridge in Anchang Ancient Town(安昌古镇), Shaoxing, Zhejiang, by photographer Lu Wen(卢文)▼

Yongan Bridge(永安桥), Xikou Village(溪口村), Ningde, Fujian, Photographer Lin Wenqiang(林文强)▼

Please watch it horizontally. The Golden Water Bridge(金水桥) in the Forbidden City in Beijing was built in the Ming Dynasty by photographer Liu Yedao(柳叶氘)▼

Multi-span stone arch bridge

Schematic diagram of stone arch bridge structure, drawing Wang Shenwen(王申雯)/ingqiuyanjiusuo▼

Double arch Bridge, Taiping Bridge(太平桥) in Ganzhou, Jiangxi, was built at the end of the Ming Dynasty, photographer Milan’s vision(米兰的视界)

Three Arch Bridge, Gongchen Bridge(拱宸桥) in Hangzhou, Photographer Jiangnan Jun(江南君)▼

Five Arch Bridge, Wukong Bridge(五孔桥), Heilongtan(黑龙潭), Lijiang, Yunnan, photographer Liu Zhuming(刘珠明)▼

Six Arch Bridge, Zhusheng Bridge(祝圣桥), Zhenyuan Ancient Town(镇远古镇), Guizhou, was built in the Ming Dynasty. Photographer Li Yunpeng(李云鹏)▼

Seventeen Arch Bridge, The seventeen hole bridge(十七孔桥) in the Summer Palace in Beijing was built during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty. It is the largest stone bridge in the Summer Palace. Photographer Qing Xin Cao(清心草)▼

Please watch it horizontally. The Precious Belt Bridge or Baodai Bridge(宝带桥) in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, was built in the Tang Dynasty and was presided over by Suzhou Provincial Governor Wang Zhongshu. The picture is from VCG.▼

Open-spandrel arch bridge

Modern bridge in Tiger Leaping Gorge, photographer wzkdream▼

Please watch it horizontally, Zhaozhou Bridge(赵州桥), Zhao County(赵县), Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province, photographer Shi Yaochen(石耀臣)▼

03 The fusion of power and beauty

Hangzhou West Lake Shuangtou Bridge(双投桥), photographer Zhang Shengdong(张圣东)▼

The Qiaolou Hall(桥楼殿) of Fuqing Temple in Cangyan Mountain(苍岩山), Jingxing County(井陉[xíng]县), Hebei Province, Photographer Wu Weiping(吴卫平)▼

Yuantouzhu Wanlang Bridge(太湖鼋[yuán]头渚万浪桥), Taihu Lake, Wuxi, Jiangsu, Photographer Zhu Jinhua(朱金华)▼

Buying Bridge(步瀛桥), Shanggantang Village(上甘棠村), Jiangyong County(江永县), Hunan, was built in the Ming Dynasty by photographer Deng Fei(邓飞)▼

Hangzhou West Lake Yudai Bridge(玉带桥), photographer Zhu Luxiang(朱露翔)▼

Part of “A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains”(《千里江山图》) by Wang Ximeng(王希孟) of the Northern Song Dynasty, now in the Palace Museum▼

The ancient stone bridge of Songzhuang Village(松庄村), Sandu Township(三都乡), Songyang County(松阳县), Lishui City, Zhejiang Province. Photographer Li Weilin(李伟林)▼