Meiqian Yongxing Bridge

Meiqian Yongxing Bridge

Meiqian Yongxing Bridge is a cultural relics protection unit of Yixing City.

Meiqian Yongxing Bridge is located in Meiqian Group, Fangqiao Village (formerly Meizijing Village), Fangqiao Town, Yixing City (by Meizijing Bridge). In May 2009, it was designated as a municipal-level cultural relics protection unit by the Yixing Municipal People's Government.

Constructed in the Dinghai year (1887) during the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty, Meiqian Yongxing Bridge is a single-arch stone bridge oriented from north to south (35° northwest of north), built with a mix of granite and bluestone. The total length of the bridge is 17.60 meters, the deck is 1.90 meters long and 3.08 meters wide. The clear span is 5.40 meters, the rise is 3.30 meters, and the height from the bottom of the bridge to the water surface is 3.60 meters. The north slope is 7.75 meters long, the abutment is 3.66 meters wide, with an 18° slope and 17 steps; the south slope is 7.95 meters long, the abutment is 4.55 meters wide, also with an 18° slope and 17 steps. The spacing between the pillow stones is 4.40 meters, the thickness of the arch stones is 0.22 meters, and the decorative arch is 0.10 meters thick. The bridge inscription stone is 1.90 meters long, 0.55 meters wide, and 0.26 meters thick. The inscription reads: “Reconstructed in the middle of autumn, Dinghai year. Rebuilt Yongxing Bridge. Guangxu Year of the Great Qing.”

Fangqiao Subdistrict: Fangqiao Subdistrict was liberated on March 28, 1949 (lunar calendar). It was officially established as the People's Government of Fangqiao Township by order of the Yixing County Military Control Commission. In October of the same year, the baojia system was abolished and the village-group system was implemented, with Party branches set up at the township level. From June 1949 to 1955, the area underwent divisions into smaller townships, land reform, mutual aid groups, and the primary cooperative movement. In February 1956, the first township merger took place and it was renamed the People's Committee of Fangqiao Township. In September 1958, the people's commune system was implemented, abolishing the township and village administrative structures and establishing communes and brigades instead. This area then became part of Hubin Commune, with the former Fangqiao Brigade... More details about Fangqiao Subdistrict++