Stone Bridge in Sunqiao Village

Stone Bridge in Sunqiao Village

The Stone Bridge in Sunqiao Village is a cultural relic protection unit of Lianyungang City.

Stone Bridge in Sunqiao Village (Ming and Qing Dynasties)

The Stone Bridge in Sunqiao Village is located southwest of Sunqiao Village, Ganma Town, Ganyu District, Lianyungang City. The bridge runs from north to south, with a total length of 11.4 meters and a clear width of 1.95 meters. It has four rows of piers, structured with “three vertical and one horizontal” sections. The horizontal stone slabs vary in length from 1.92 to 2 meters, and the piers are 1.48 meters high. The bridge deck is paved with nine stone slabs, and one of the slabs in the northeast corner features an ancient chessboard pattern. The bridge originally had several stone carved dragon heads, but only one remains. It fell off long ago and sank underwater, but was recovered during a river dredging project in 2017 and is now preserved in the yard of the village-run brick factory east of Sunqiao Village. The remaining dragon head is 0.85 meters long, 0.44 meters wide, and 0.32 meters high.

According to the Jiaqing Gazetteer of Ganyu County, between the 18th year of the Wanli era (1590) and the 39th year of the Wanli era (1611), individuals such as Fan Zhaocheng, Xu Yingyuan, and Gu Wen? contributed funds multiple times to repair the bridge, which is why it is also known as the "Three Philanthropists Bridge." Historical records from the county indicate that the local gentry further reinforced the bridge's structure during the Qing Dynasty, enhancing its durability and making it quite sturdy. Before the construction of a new bridge in 2011, this stone bridge served for a long time as the main passageway connecting the village with the outside world.

Ganma Town: A town under the jurisdiction of Ganyu County. Established as Ganma Township in 1957, it was reorganized as a commune in 1958, reverted to township status in 1983, and became a town in 1985. Located in the northern part of the county, it is 6 kilometers from the county seat, covering an area of 48.3 square kilometers with a population of 51,000. It borders National Highway 204 to the east, and Qingkou–Shilu Road passes through the town. The town hosts a branch of the Ganyu County Waterworks, supplying water via underground pipelines. The town administers Chengli, Zhangyuan, Fengding, Xiguan, Dailing, Machang, Banlu, Shaosanzhuang, Chensanzhuang, Guzhuang, Beiliuzhuang, Shaolin, Dashangyan, Zhongsangyan, Xisangyan, Lushangyan... More details about Ganma Town ++

Further Reading:

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