Golden Dragon Bridge and Stone Wharf

Golden Dragon Bridge and Stone Wharf

Golden Dragon Bridge and Stone Wharf, located at the eastern end of Xiaohetou Lane in Zhangzhu Town, Yixing City, were designated as a municipal-level cultural relics protection unit by the Yixing Municipal People's Government in March 2003.

Golden Dragon Bridge and Stone Wharf were built during the Tongzhi era of the Qing Dynasty and served as the main distribution hub for stone materials in Zhangzhu’s history. The bridge is a single-arch stone structure, oriented east-west, constructed from bluestone, with a total length of 6 meters and a central width of 2.50 meters. To the west of the bridge lies a river-port-style wharf, extending over 60 meters from north to south. About 35 meters east of the Golden Dragon Bridge stands a flat slab stone bridge. The eastern bank of the wharf was a stone material storage yard, while the western bank housed a stone supply area with shops and stone carving workshops in front of them. Due to historical changes, stonemasons around Golden Dragon Bridge either changed professions or relocated elsewhere. Today, only one stone workshop remains in operation. The waterway has long been silted up and is no longer navigable, but the stone wharf is still relatively well-preserved, offering a glimpse into the bustling stone trade of the past.

Zhangzhu Town: Known historically as Taohexi, Zhangzhu Town in Yixing City was established in the fourth year of the Yongjia era during the Western Jin Dynasty (310 AD), boasting a history of nearly 1,700 years. It is situated in a hilly area approximately 30 kilometers southwest of downtown Yixing. Surrounded by verdant mountains, bamboo forests, and fragrant tea fields, the renowned 4th—Shanjuan Scenic Area—is located within Zhangzhu. For a long time, it has been a major hub for agricultural and sideline product distribution and commercial trade in the border region of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui provinces, earning the reputation of “Golden Zhangzhu.” It has been successively named by the provincial government as a Key Industrial Satellite Town, One of Jiangsu’s Hundred Famous Towns, a New Model Town of Jiangsu, and a Sanitary Town of Jiangsu Province. More details about Zhangzhu Town++