Changmen Suspension Bridge

Changmen Suspension Bridge

Changmen Suspension Bridge is a cultural tourism attraction.

Changmen Suspension Bridge is located at the eastern end of Changxu Road, spanning the Outer City Moat. It is one of the bridges connecting the inner and outer parts of the city. In the Song Dynasty’s Pingjiang Map, it was called Hongqiao, commonly known as the Suspension Bridge. In the sixth year of the Chenghua reign of the Ming Dynasty (1470), it was renamed Yongji Bridge. Initially built from wood, it was later destroyed by floods. A local resident, Zheng Wengui, voluntarily funded the reconstruction of the stone bridge, which was completed in the first year of the Taiding era of the Yuan Dynasty (1324) in October, at a cost of 150,000 guan.

In the early years of the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty, it was rebuilt as a stone pier and wooden beam bridge. It was destroyed and reconstructed multiple times in the seventh year of the Zhengde reign (1512), the eighteenth year of the Wanli reign (1590), the eleventh year of the Chongzhen reign (1638), the second year of the Shunzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1645), and the third year of the Kangxi reign (1664). It underwent major repairs in the twenty-second year of the Jiaqing reign (1817).

The Tongzhi-era Gazetteer of Suzhou Prefecture, quoting Yu Ji’s “Brief Account,” states: “The Hongqiao Bridge is located west of Changmen, spanning the official river and linking the post road, serving as a vital chokepoint. Water gathers beneath the bridge into a swirling pool before turning eastward, flowing with fierce momentum. The bridge was originally built with wood, but over the years decayed and deteriorated...”

In the twenty-third year of the Republic of China (1934), it was rebuilt with a reinforced concrete deck and stone column supports, while the east and west abutments retained their original Ming and Qing structures. In the 1970s, both sides were widened. Today, the newly reconstructed Suspension Bridge is a covered bridge that spans the Outer City Moat. From ancient times to the present, the Suspension Bridge has not only been a thoroughfare for boats and pedestrians, but also a vital link that connects the thousand-year prosperity of the bustling Changmen area.