Ning'an Daqiao (Great Stone Bridge)

Ning'an Daqiao

Ning'an Daqiao is a cultural relic protection unit of Heilongjiang Province.

Ning'an Daqiao

The Great Stone Bridge is the most picturesque and tranquil spot in the ancient city of Ning'an. The bridge lies against the mountains and overlooks the water, with Jiming Mountain behind it and the Mudan River in front. This quaint and majestic stone bridge has a history of

300

over a hundred

1634

years. It was first built in the eighth year of the Tiancong reign of the Jin Dynasty (1634 AD), originally named “Changban Bridge” and constructed from wood. It was later rebuilt as a stone bridge. Over the centuries, it has undergone several renovations. When locals in Ning'an speak of the Great Stone Bridge, they often recount the story of the Golden Oil Peddler who repaired it. It is said that during the Tongzhi era, there was an unmarried oil seller surnamed Jin who passed by the bridge frequently while peddling oil. Seeing the deteriorated condition of the stone bridge, he spent his life savings to renovate it completely.

The Great Stone Bridge is a single-arch stone bridge built with bluestone. It is

25

meters

long,

4.5

meters

,

wide, and

7.3

meters

high. Symmetrically arranged along both sides of the bridge deck are

56

stone pillars, each topped with carved stone peaches. The stone slabs between the pillars are adorned with decorative patterns. Beneath the bridge lies a massive arch spanning over

4

meters

in height, through which the water from the Po Snow Spring cascades down, flows through the valley, and eventually joins the Mudan River. The area around the Great Stone Bridge is shaded by trees, and the sight of the ancient bridge over flowing water is truly enchanting. It has now been designated as a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit by the People's Government of Heilongjiang Province. On the southwestern cliff near the bridge stands a stone pavilion housing two stone steles inscribed with inscriptions and plaques documenting the history of the Great Stone Bridge.