Suzhou Pujie Bridge

Suzhou Pujie Bridge

Suzhou Pujie Bridge is a cultural relic protection unit of Jiangsu Province.

Pujie Bridge is located on the western section of Shantang Street in Suzhou, spanning the Shantang River. It was built in the 49th year of the Kangxi reign during the Qing Dynasty (1710) and was named after the Pujitang (Mercy Hall) situated beside the bridge. The bridge underwent renovations in the 58th year of the Qianlong reign (1793), the 21st year of the Daoguang reign (1841), and the 14th year of the Republic of China (1925). It is a three-arch stone bridge constructed from granite, running in a north-south direction, with its arches built using the "longitudinal jointed and tiered" masonry technique. The bridge is 38.69 meters long in total, with the central arch having a clear span of 9.16 meters and a rise of 4.37 meters; the bridge deck is 4.05 meters wide at the center. The southern secondary arch spans 5.31 meters with a rise of 2.60 meters, while the northern secondary arch spans 5.29 meters with a rise of 2.54 meters. Stone steps are built at both ends — 30 steps on the south side and 26 on the north. The inner walls of the arches are inscribed with the surnames of donors. The east and west sides feature carved couplets on the vertical pillars. In 1986, due to severe sinking of the central arch’s top, lateral shifting of the side arches, deformation and subsidence of the bridge structure, and emerging safety risks, a major disassembly and restoration project was carried out. The original appearance was preserved under the principle of “restoring the old as it was.” Prior to dismantling, detailed measurements were taken, exposed stone components were numbered and mapped, and repairs followed the original layout. Modern materials and techniques were used in concealed parts of the bridge. The water-base stones under the four piers no longer used traditional wooden pile anchors but instead were replaced with reinforced concrete abutments poured to depths of 3.6–3.8 meters to enlarge the foundation. An additional layer of steel mesh was added to the back of the arch rings, and cement grouting was applied for reinforcement.

In 1982, Pujie Bridge was listed as a Suzhou Municipal Cultural Relics Protection Unit. In 2019, it was included in the eighth batch of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Further Reading:

· Eighth Batch of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units