Shitang Bridge

Shitang Bridge

Shitang Bridge is a cultural relics protection unit of Yixing City.

Shitang Bridge is located about 500 meters southeast of Dapu Zhangze Street in Dingshu Town, Yixing City. On March 19, 2003, the Yixing Municipal People's Government designated it as a Cultural Relics Controlled Unit. In May 2009, it was further designated as a Municipal-Level Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Constructed during the Qing Dynasty and commonly known as Beishidang Bridge, Shitang Bridge is a single-arch stone bridge oriented east-west (with a slight southeast deviation of 30°). The bridge has an overall length of 24.80 meters, a deck length of 2.05 meters, and a central width of 3.58 meters. The clear span is 6.90 meters, the rise is 3.90 meters, and the height from the base of the bridge to the water surface is 4.40 meters. The west ramp is 12.30 meters long with a width of 4.60 meters at the approach. The east ramp is 11.40 meters long, also 4.60 meters wide at the approach, with a flat section 3.30 meters long. There are 17 stone steps on both the east and west sides, with a slope of 14°. The bridge has four pillow stones, each 4.25 meters long, 0.30 meters wide, and 0.23 meters thick, spaced 3.80 meters apart. The bridge inscription stone is 2.08 meters long, 0.58 meters wide, and 0.35 meters thick. The arch stones are 0.25 meters thick, while the decorative arch stones are 0.15 meters thick. The second pillow stone (above the bridge couplet stone) is 0.40 meters wide. The central keystone has a diameter of 0.72 meters and features a whirlpool pattern. The bridge couplet stones are 2.20 meters long, spaced 8.30 meters apart (distance between the second full stone).

Dingshu Town: Located in Yixing City, Jiangsu Province, Dingshu Town lies within the Yangtze River Delta Economic Development Zone. It borders Taihu Lake to the east and the foothills of the Tianmu Mountain range to the west, covering an area of 73 square kilometers with a population of 140,000. It is part of the urban area of Yixing City. In 2000, Jiangsu Province positioned Yixing as “China’s renowned pottery capital, an important industrial tourism city in Jiangsu Province, and a comprehensive commercial service hub in the border region of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui.”

With its harmonious blend of mountains, rivers, picturesque scenery, and rich cultural heritage, Dingshu Town is an important part of the famous Yangxian Scenic Area and one of the premier tourist destinations in the Jiangnan region.

Dingshu Town is famous for its pottery production… More details about Dingshu Town ++