Shenyang Yong'an Bridge

Shenyang Yong'an Bridge

Shenyang Yong'an Bridge is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Liaoning Province.

Yong'an Bridge, commonly known as the Big Stone Bridge, is located in Yong'an Village, Zhi Township, Yuhong District, Shenyang. The bridge was first built in the sixth year of the Chongde reign during the Qing Dynasty (1641) and is one of the most well-preserved stone arch bridges in Shenyang.

In the early Qing Dynasty, Yong'an Bridge was an important crossing and a mandatory route for the emperors of the Qing Dynasty during their eastern imperial tours.

Yong'an Bridge is a three-arch stone bridge, with a total length of 37 meters, an external width of 14.5 meters, a roadway width of 8.9 meters, and an abutment width of 12 meters. On both sides of the bridge are nineteen stone balustrades, with carved stone lions atop the bridge-end columns, while the rest feature lotus-leaf-shaped capitals. At each end of the bridge stand pairs of exquisitely carved stone lions facing each other. The railings are adorned with persimmon-patterned motifs and cloud scrolls, while the drum stones outside the end pillars are engraved with patterns of deer, tigers, qilin, rhinoceroses, sheep, and butterflies. On the north side of the bridge are two dragons peeking out from the top, and on the south side, a pair of dragon tails are visible. Viewed from afar, the bridge appears to be carried by two dragons, showcasing vivid and ingeniously crafted designs.

Having endured over three hundred years of weathering, the bridge deck was severely damaged. In 1979, the Shenyang Cultural Relics Management Office spent three months restoring it to its original condition.

In 1963, the bridge was designated as a provincial-level cultural heritage protection site.