Autumn Garden Turtle Waist Bridge

Autumn Garden Turtle Waist Bridge

The Autumn Garden Turtle Waist Bridge is a cultural relic protection unit of Lianyungang City.

Autumn Garden Turtle Waist Bridge (1930s)

The Autumn Garden Turtle Waist Bridge is located on the "Great Salt River" within Autumn Garden in Banpu Town, Haizhou District, Lianyungang City. "Autumn Garden" was first built in the 19th year of the Republic of China (1930), and through successive expansions, it began to take shape by the 26th year (1937), though the full construction plan had not yet been completed. This garden belonged to the Kuomintang’s Lianghuai Salt Administration Bureau, covering a total area of over 100 acres. It incorporated architectural features of gardens in southern China while maintaining its own unique style. With both artificial and natural hills and waters integrated seamlessly, the landscape complemented the architecture, making it an excellent destination for leisure and sightseeing. It was hailed as the "Number One Garden in Northern Huai." The garden’s name derived from the character "Qiu" (autumn) in the name of Miao Qiuji, hence the name "Autumn Garden."

The Turtle Waist Bridge is situated over the "Great Salt River" within Autumn Garden. It is supported by 20 stone pillars as foundations and paved with 50 long flagstones. Locally nicknamed the "Ghost Bridge," its actual name is the Turtle Waist Bridge, derived from its arched shape that resembles a turtle's shell—being lower at both ends and gradually rising in the middle.

Banpu Town: Banpu Town is located at the southern gateway of Lianyungang City, only 15 kilometers north of the city center. The town covers a total area of 80.84 square kilometers, with 74,700 mu of cultivated land; it has a total population of 65,691 and administers 5 community neighborhood committees and 16 administrative villages. In 2008, it achieved a GDP of 777 million yuan, fiscal revenue of 35.1391 million yuan, and an average rural per capita income of 6,324 yuan.

[Historical Evolution] Since its establishment as a town in the late Sui Dynasty (612 AD), Banpu Town has been a political, economic, and cultural hub of the ancient Haizhou region... More details about Banpu Town++

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Municipal Cultural Relic Protection Units in Lianyungang City