Wanyuan Bridge

Wanyuan Bridge

Wanyuan Bridge, also known as Wangmao Public Bridge, is located next to Fusheng Chan Temple (also called Dongyue Temple) in Wangmao Village, Zhoutie Town, Yixing City.

Wanyuan Bridge is said to have been originally built during the Chiwu era of the Three Kingdoms period, but the existing bridge was rebuilt in the late Qing Dynasty. It is a single-arch stone bridge, oriented east-west (11° southwest of due west), featuring 20 stone steps on the east side and 18 on the west. The bridge is constructed of stacked granite and is equipped with railings. It is 20.50 meters long, with a deck length of 2.83 meters, a central width of 3.50 meters, and an approach width of 4.38 meters. The arch span is 5.70 meters, with a rise of 3.40 meters. The western slope is 9.50 meters long with a gradient of 17°. The eastern slope is 8.50 meters long; the upper bearing stone on the east side is 4.30 meters long, the lower one is 4.80 meters, the flat approach is 2.70 meters, and the bottom width of the flat approach is 4.40 meters. The inner spacing between the two central bearing stones is 4.10 meters, and the outer spacing is 4.70 meters. The inner spacing between the two side bearing stones is 7.30 meters, and the outer spacing is 8.20 meters. Both sides of the bridge arch are inscribed with raised couplets. The southern side reads: “A hundred li away, it inhales the refined aura of Copper Peak; for a thousand autumns it stands firm, taming the wild waves of Lake Tai.” The northern side reads: “Relying on the contributions of many, its merit endures through generations; with the mighty protection of the divine, its blessings extend far and wide.” The calligraphy of the couplets was inscribed by Yue?, a descendant of Yue Fei and the Qing Dynasty magistrate of Jiujiang.

Zhoutie Town: Located on the western shore of Taihu Lake and in the northeastern part of Yixing City, Zhoutie Town enjoys a superior geographical location with convenient water and land transportation. It is close to Suzhou, Wuxi, and Changzhou, and adjacent to the Suyi Expressway to the west, providing direct access to Shanghai, Nanjing, and Hangzhou within just an hour and a half’s drive. The town covers a total area of 73.2 square kilometers, with a population of 58,800. It administers 14 village committees and 2 neighborhood committees, and is home to over 400 industrial enterprises.

Zhoutie Town has a long and rich history. Historical records indicate that the town was established as an administrative unit as early as the Zhou Dynasty, giving it a history of more than 2,700 years. Lake…… Zhoutie Town detailed information++