Liulihe Bridge

Liulihe Bridge

Liulihe Bridge is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Liulihe Bridge is located on the Beijing-Shijiazhuang Highway north of Liulihe in Fangshan District. It is the largest stone arch bridge in Fangshan District, second only in scale to Lugou Bridge. Originally a wooden bridge, it was often washed away during flood seasons. In the 18th year of the Jiajing reign (1539), construction of this stone bridge began and was completed in the 25th year of the Jiajing reign. The north-south oriented stone bridge spans the Liulihe River, measuring 165.5 meters in length, 10.3 meters in width, and over 8 meters in height, with a total of nine arches. The central arch is the largest, and the center of its arch ring is carved with exquisitely detailed animal heads. The entire bridge is built from massive stone blocks. It features solid parapet walls and pillars adorned with decorative patterns such as crabapple lines. In the 40th year of the Jiajing reign (1561), embankments were built extending north and south, each 19.8 meters wide, nearly 4 meters high, and about 2,000 meters long in total. The embankment surfaces were paved with large flagstones, forming what is known as the legendary “Five-Li Long Street.” From the beginning of the bridge’s construction to the completion of the embankments, the project spanned over 20 years. Liulihe Stone Bridge is one of the best-preserved ancient stone bridges in the Beijing area.

Liulihe Bridge is located in Liulihe Town, Fangshan District, Beijing. The bridge spans the Dashui River and is the largest stone arch bridge in Fangshan District, second only in size to Lugou Bridge. Construction of Liulihe Bridge began in the 18th year of the Jiajing reign and took seven years to complete. In the 40th year of the Jiajing reign, embankments were constructed on both the northern and southern sides to mitigate flooding. The bridge has stood for over 400 years since its completion and still stands firmly over the river.

The bridge runs north-south and is an 11-arch stone bridge, measuring 165.5 meters in length and 10.3 meters in width. It features solid parapet walls and pillars, all beautifully carved with decorative patterns such as crabapple lines. Before 1999, it served as a key section of the Beijing-Shijiazhuang Highway, bearing heavy traffic. In 1999, a new Liulihe Bridge was built west of the original, after which the old bridge became a protected cultural relic. Today, when driving past the new Liulihe Bridge, you can see this historic structure in the distance. Though the bridge is delicate and elegant, up close you’ll notice the surface is not entirely smooth, with some weeds growing between the cracks—details that add to its historical charm.

In May 2013, Liulihe Bridge was designated and announced by the State Council of the People’s Republic of China as part of the seventh group of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Address: East side of Jing Shen Road, Liulihe Town, Fangshan District, Beijing

Type: Historic Bridge

Recommended visiting time: About 20 minutes

Opening hours: Open all day

Ticket information: Free admission

Further reading:

· Third Batch of Municipal-Level Cultural Relics Protection Units in Beijing

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units