Ancient Bridges of Liyang

Ancient Bridges of Liyang

　The diversity of bridge styles, the sheer number, and the richness of stories associated with bridges in Liyang have fascinated scholars and artists since ancient times.

According to the Annals of Liyang County, the construction of bridges in Liyang began in the late Daye era of the Sui Dynasty (617), and today the city still retains over 5,200 bridges, including 468 stone bridges.

Among the ancient bridges of Liyang, the most eye-catching are the 256 stone bridges built before the Qing Dynasty. Having endured centuries of historical change, they still retain their timeless charm.

The pre-Qing Dynasty bridges located between Nandu and Jiuxian—such as Nandu Bridge, Zhongqiao, Shijia Bridge, as well as Xiabridge (also known as Qin Gong Bridge), Kunlun Bridge, Shuangqiao, and Tushan Bridge in Liyang Town—are all stone arch bridges. They were designed to manage water flow in layered reservoirs along the river, hence the saying “three locks above, five locks below.” Several towns and villages in the region are also named after these historic bridges, such as Zhujie Bridge, Yu Bridge, and Daoren Bridge.

The names of Liyang’s bridges are uniquely diverse. Some are named after auspicious symbols, such as Phoenix Bridge, Shuangfeng Bridge, and Jilong Bridge; some after animals, like Golden Rooster Bridge, Carp Bridge, and Badger Mound Bridge; some after place names, such as Yangzhuang Bridge, Yu Bridge, and Tang Bridge; some based on geographic location, like Nanmen Bridge, Beimen Water Bridge, Dongfeng Bridge, and Xicheng Bridge in Liyang Town; some named for materials, such as Shiba Bridge, Mutou Bridge, Banqiao, and Shipan Bridge; some inspired by folklore and legends, such as Oushi Bridge, Shouxingdu Bridge, Zhujie Bridge, and Guanlian Bridge; some based on the shape of the bridge itself, like Huamu Bridge and Pengcheng Bridge; and some named after nearby major structures, such as Taiping Bridge, Chenfu Bridge, Hospital Bridge, and Park Bridge. Among them, Taiping Bridge in Shanghuang Town, also known as Hulangdian Bridge, is recorded in the Jiankang Annals compiled during the Song Jingding era (1260–1264). Hulangdian was a grand temple on the hillside west of the bridge, which enjoyed flourishing incense offerings and fame across Jiangsu and Zhejiang before being renamed Taiping Hall, and the bridge subsequently became known as Taiping Bridge. The bridge body features exquisite carvings of flowers, dragons, phoenixes, butterflies, and more. Stone archways, stone statues of humans, horses, chickens, and other figures stand vividly at the bridgeheads, making it the oldest and best-preserved stone arch bridge in Shanghuang Town.

The legend of Xiabridge among Liyang’s ancient bridges is widely celebrated locally. This bridge spans the Li-Jin Highway and Xili River in Liyang City and was historically referred to as “Xiabridge” in the Jinling Annals. During the Southern Song Dynasty’s Shaoxing era, because it was near the residence of Qin Zi, it was also called “Qin Gong Bridge.”

Qin Zi, originally from Jiangning, passed the imperial examination in 1124 during the Song Dynasty’s Xuanhe era and served as an academic recorder at the Imperial Academy and a lecturer at the Chongzheng Hall, known for his integrity. He was the brother of Qin Hui, a powerful but controversial figure in the Southern Song court, but chose not to follow Qin Hui’s corrupt path, eventually moving to Liyang to live in seclusion. Initially residing in Shangdian Village in Shanghuang Town, he later moved to Xiabridge in Liyang City—now Xiabridge in Liyang Town. His conduct earned praise from locals. The nearby Bao’en Chan Temple once housed a stele inscription written by Qin Zi, which is why the bridge was commonly called “Xiabridge,” and also referred to as “Qin Gong Temple” and “Qin Gong Bridge” by the people.

Currently, the only surviving three-arch stone bridge in Liyang is She Tou Bridge in Shetou Village, Daitou Town. The Jiaqing-era Annals of Liyang County record that She Tou Bridge was built in the 61st year of the Kangxi reign during the Qing Dynasty (1662), about 11 kilometers from the county seat at the time. Local residents say the bridge was funded by selling the blood of a hen that had been saved and repaid kindness, and was built stone by stone by master stonemasons from the Shanghuang area using local materials. The bridge is 30 meters long, about 3 meters wide, with its upper structure formed by arched stone slabs, stone blocks forming the piers below, and inverted arches of stone slabs at the base supporting the bridge feet. Both the north and south approaches feature stone steps and stone railings, representing the pinnacle of stone arch bridge craftsmanship.

Kunlun Bridge is located on the Changli River in Liyang Town, 4.5 kilometers from the city center, and was historically known as “Guanlian Bridge.” Legend says it earned the name during the Qing Dynasty’s Qianlong era when the river was covered with blooming lotuses. The Qing poet Peng Gui once wrote a poem praising Kunlun Bridge: “My homeland I’ve long left behind, this place I seldom see. The warm waters teem with growing fry, while shade trees host swallows in flight. Moored midway on the bridge, I face fans tucked in bamboo. Daily I watch fishermen cast lines from the rocky shore.” This old-style stone arch bridge was rebuilt in the 14th year of the Guangxu reign (1888) during the Qing Dynasty. During the Anti-Japanese War, Japanese forces attempted several times to blow up the bridge to halt military advances, but the resilient Guanlian Bridge stood firm under the protection of local residents. In 1998, scenes for the eight-episode TV series Farmers of Chen Huansheng, adapted from the famous novel series by the late writer Gao Xiaosheng, were filmed on and around Kunlun Bridge.

Shànqìng Bridge, commonly called “Gaobridge,” is located south of Daibu Town, spanning the town’s central river with a span of 10 meters and a width of 3 meters. It is a single-arch stone bridge built in the 15th year of the Zhengde reign during the Ming Dynasty (1520) and renovated in the Qing Dynasty. Tongzi Bridge, built in the 2nd year of the Jiaqing reign (1800) during the Qing Dynasty, is located south of the town, crossing the Jian River. It is 4 meters long and 2 meters wide, and is a stone slab bridge. Ancient bridges in Daibu Town—such as Shànqìng Bridge, Hongyu Bridge, Chunyu Bridge (named for the rain prayers of locals), and Bazhi Bridge (connecting Yixing and Liyang)—are all testaments to the wisdom and hard work of laboring people.

Zhujie Town: Located in the heart of Zhujie Old Street, the bridge built during the Ming Dynasty’s Wanli era was originally a wooden structure, later rebuilt as a stone bridge in the 20th year of the Qianlong reign (1755) during the Qing Dynasty. Legend says that elderly anglers on both sides of the river, unwilling to let the waterway separate communities, built a bamboo bridge with riverbank bamboo—thus the folk name “Zhujie Bridge.”

The earliest bridge built in Liyang is Bieqiao in Bieqiao Town, historically known as “Anle Bridge,” located on the Danjin-Li-Cao Canal, 18 kilometers from Liyang City. Bieqiao was first built in the 13th year of the Daye era of the Sui Dynasty (617), making it 1,387 years old. At that time, the local county magistrate built the bridge after dredging the Jingdu River, reinforcing its ends with brick bridge abutments for stability. It was rebuilt as a stone slab bridge in the 1st year of the Jiaqing reign (1796) during the Qing Dynasty, and renovated again in the 8th year of the Tongzhi reign (1869). Originally a single-arch stone bridge, it was demolished and rebuilt in 1966, though navigation issues persisted. In 1986, during the dredging project of the Bieqiao section of the Danjin-Li-Cao Canal, the old bridge was removed and reconstructed. The current bridge is 30 meters long, with one navigable span, a clear opening of 15.4 meters, and a clearance height of 3.01 meters.

Located in Gegi Village, 3 kilometers east of Liyang Town, on the Madian River, there is a single-arch stone bridge called “Poshi Bridge.” With a history of over 300 years, it was listed as a municipal-level cultural heritage bridge of Liyang in May 1999. Poshi Bridge was built during the Ming Dynasty’s Hongli era by Chen, the wife of Zhou Jin from Liyang. It was rebuilt in the 9th year of the Shunzhi reign (1652) through donations led by Zhou Zongwei and others. The bridge is 28.5 meters long, 3.7 meters wide, with a clear span of 5.5 meters and a clearance height of 3.14 meters. Entirely constructed of stone, it has withstood centuries of weathering and remains intact to this day.

Zhongqiao, located between present-day Nandu and Jiuxian, spans the ancient Zhongjiang River (now Zhonghe), originally called “Zhongjiang Bridge,” commonly known as Zhongqiao, and sometimes referred to as “Tongjiang Bridge.” During the Tang Kaiyuan era, County Magistrate Qiao Xiang built a pontoon bridge here. The bridge built in the 3rd year of the Yuanyou era was called “Zhongdong Bridge,” but collapsed early, causing hardship for those crossing the river. In the 11th year of the Jiading reign (1218), Transport Commissioner Yu ordered County Magistrate Zhao Shisong to rebuild the bridge, renaming it “Jiading Bridge.” According to the Jiankang Annals, it was rebuilt again during the Qing Shunzhi era. The ancient Zhongjiang River was once called the Lai River, where the legend of the chaste maiden washing silk took place. Near Zhongqiao lie the Wash-Silk Temple and the Shrine of Lady Shi, commemorative sites honoring the ancient chaste maiden.

Liyang Town: The Jiangsu Liyang Economic Development Zone (Liyang Town) was established in 903 AD and has a history of over 1,100 years. It is one of Jiangsu Province’s hundred renowned towns. The district-town is located at the southwestern tip of Jiangsu Province, at the geometric center of the Yangtze River Delta, bordering Yixing to the east, Nandu Town to the west, Daibu Town to the south, and Zhujie Town and Bieqiao Town to the north. It encompasses 73 administrative villages and community committees, covering a total area of 155.21 square kilometers with a population of 294,800. The urban area spans 35 square kilometers, with a non-agricultural population of 128,900. In 2014, it achieved... Detailed information on Liyang Town++