Saihongqiao

Saihongqiao

Saihongqiao is a cultural relic protection unit of Nanjing.

Saihongqiao, located southwest of Jiqing Gate in Nanjing and north of the Saihongqiao Interchange, spans a tributary of the Qinhuai River. Built during the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty, it was originally a three-arch stone bridge, also known as Sai Gong Bridge or Sai Gongqiao. The bridge once faced directly toward Xunxiang Gate of the outer city wall of the Ming Dynasty. The stone bridge is now a cultural relic protection unit of Nanjing.

It is said that when Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang of the Ming Dynasty was constructing the capital city, the Ministry of Works and Yingtian Prefecture were assigned to build different sections. Yingtian Prefecture completed its section ahead of schedule and had leftover funds, so it built a stone bridge there, naming it Sai Gong Bridge (meaning “to rival the Ministry of Works”). Later, local officials, wishing to avoid appearing disrespectful to their superiors, renamed the bridge Saihongqiao, inspired by lines from Du Mu’s “Ode to the Epang Palace” during the Tang Dynasty: “A long bridge lies across the waves—where are the clouds? / What dragon is this? / A covered walkway soars through the sky—why no clearing? / What rainbow is this?” It has also been called Sai Gong Bridge and Zha Hong Bridge.

Saihongqiao was rebuilt during the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty. The bridge is over 50 meters wide, with a dividing pier extending more than 60 meters, an arch rise of 8.95 meters, and it can still bear loads of up to 8 tons. Its width is rare among ancient bridges in Nanjing. In 1947, the “Saihongqiao Defense Battle Memorial Tower” was built near the bridge.

In 2003, the Saihongqiao Interchange was completed. It was named after its proximity to Saihongqiao. The interchange connects from Shuixi Gate Elevated Road in the north, to Fengtai South Road in the south, Zhongshan South Road in the east, and Yingtian West Road in the west. It includes projects such as the widening of Fengtai Road, the Fengtai Road Shunhe Bridge, and the Jiqing Gate Tunnel.

The Saihongqiao Interchange is not only the largest fully directional urban interchange in Nanjing's urban construction history but also currently the largest of its kind in China. With a total investment of 1.2 billion yuan, the project covers an area of 132,600 square meters, features 10 kilometers of roadways, and includes 39-meter-wide, six-lane asphalt roads. There are 486 bridge piers alone. The interchange is divided into four levels from top to ground, standing 23 meters high—equivalent to an eight-story building.