Yongji Bridge in Changshu

Yongji Bridge in Changshu

Yongji Bridge is a cultural relic protection unit of Suzhou.

Yongji Bridge

Located at the southern end of Shangtang Street near the southern gate of the city. It was first built in the 46th year of the Kangxi reign during the Qing Dynasty (1707) and completed in the 59th year (1720), funded by Ma Yizi, the superintendent of grain transport, who donated his salary, and assisted by Wang Jinqing, a local resident. The current bridge is a three-arch structure oriented from east to west. The central arch has a rise of 6.4 meters, a top width of 4.5 meters, the bridge abutment is 6.2 meters wide, the span is 28.6 meters, and the total length is 41.3 meters. The arch rings were constructed using the method of longitudinal jointing with separate sections arranged in parallel—seven sections for the smaller arches and eleven for the central arch. On the two sides, the vertical pillars are inscribed with couplets: “May Heaven always bless good people, may people always do good deeds” and “Fine weather, good harvests, peace under heaven.” The stone railings are engraved with dozens of lines of inscriptions. It was designated as a cultural relic protection unit of Changshu City in November 1982.