Qingpu Pujie Bridge

Qingpu Pujie Bridge

Qingpu Pujie Bridge is a Shanghai Municipal Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Pujie Bridge is situated at the southern end of Jinze Town and is one of the oldest stone bridges in the region. Due to the nearby Shengtang Temple, it is also commonly referred to as Shengtang Bridge. Constructed in the Southern Song Dynasty (1267 AD), it underwent renovations during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, including the addition of stone railings. It is a single-arch stone bridge, 26.7 meters in length and 5 meters in height. In ancient times, there was a wooden frame at the top of the bridge equipped with wooden doors that were closed at night to ensure the safety of residents on both sides of the river.

The architectural design of Pujie Bridge is quite sophisticated. Its arch construction method is the same as that of the famous Zhaozhou Bridge in Hebei Province. The stones used are the same as those in Wangxian Bridge within Fangta Park in Songjiang District, Shanghai—both made of precious purple stone that emits a purple sheen. When the rain clears and sunlight shines on the bridge, the purple stones glisten brilliantly, resembling a jeweled bridge. On the middle keystone of the stone arch beneath the bridge is engraved the bold inscription “Xianchun Third Year” (1267 AD), serving as solid evidence that this bridge is a structure from the Song Dynasty.

Over more than 700 years of history, Pujie Bridge has weathered storms and witnessed historical changes, much like an elderly sage who has endured much. Zhao Mengfu, a descendant of the Song Dynasty and the 13th-generation grandson of Emperor Zhao Kuangyin, was a renowned painter and calligrapher. At the age of 43, suffering from the pain of the fall of the Southern Song Dynasty, he and his wife Guan Daosheng temporarily retired to the Yiha Temple in Jinze, where they copied scriptures and created paintings and calligraphy to pass the time.

On nights when the moon was full, the couple would come to Pujie Bridge to admire the moon, take walks, and ease their sorrows through the scenery. They often reflected on the patriotic spirit of Yue Fei, who resisted northern invaders to protect the nation, and would recite Yue Fei’s poem “Xiao Chongshan” (Minor Double Mountain) under the moonlight:

“Last night the autumn crickets never ceased their chirping; / Startled from my thousand-mile dream, I found it was midnight. / I rise and pace alone on the steps — all is quiet, / The moon casts a hazy glow beyond the curtain. / White-haired, I strive for fame and glory, / But the pines and bamboos on my old mountain grow old, blocking my homeward path. / I’d confide my feelings to my zither, / But few understand such music; / If the strings should break, who would listen?”

This is a lyrical poem by Yue Fei, using a dreamlike setting to express the sorrow of being unable to serve the nation. At the time, the surrenderist faction led by Qin Hui dominated the court, suppressing patriotic generals, casting a shadow over the country, and witnessing the shattered landscape. Yue Fei’s deep patriotism and resistance against invaders were channeled through his zither playing, but there were few who supported him. He harbored immense hatred for those cowardly traitors. Zhao Mengfu and his wife, while reciting “Xiao Chongshan,” were often moved to tears, their clothes soaked with emotion.

At the time, Guan Daosheng lived in Xiao Zheng Town in Qingpu. It took no more than half a day to travel by boat to Jinze, so the couple often went back and forth. To console her husband, Guan accompanied him on trips to scenic spots within Qingpu. The then-prosperous Qinglong Town, now known as Baihe Town, was bustling with merchants. The couple stayed there and paid tribute to the memory of Han Shizhong and his wife Liang Hongyu, heroes who fought against invaders on the battlefield, as a gesture of remembrance for the Southern Song Dynasty. Pujie Bridge, a typical relic from the Southern Song era, saw the couple walking back and forth repeatedly, gently touching the bridge railings again and again as a sign of cherishing and remembrance.

In 1987, it was listed as a Shanghai Municipal Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Jinze Town: Located in the southwest of Qingpu District, Jinze Town is the western gateway for Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces entering Shanghai and is the only town in Shanghai bordering both Jiangsu and Zhejiang. To the east, it neighbors Zhujiajiao Town; to the southeast, it connects with Liantang Town; to the southwest, it borders Dingzha Town and Dashun Town in Jiashan County, Zhejiang Province; and to the northwest, it adjoins Xintai Town in Wujiang District, Jiangsu Province, as well as Zhouzhuang Town and Jinxi Town in Kunshan City. With convenient water and land transportation, it serves as a vital hub between Shanghai and surrounding areas. National Highway 318 and the Huqingping Expressway run through the town. Major national waterways such as the Taipu River and Jishui Port are important routes to provinces including Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui... More detailed information about Jinze Town++