Shunmin Bridge

Shunmin Bridge

Shunmin Bridge is a cultural relic protection unit of Suzhou.

Shunmin Bridge

It is situated on Fushantang River at the junction of Lijiao Village and Zhangba Village in Yushan Town. It was also known as Lijia Bridge because the Ming Dynasty Minister Li Jie resided here. Originally constructed during the Hongzhi period of the Ming Dynasty by Grand Coordinator Lu Zhong, the bridge suffered damage and was rebuilt multiple times due to river erosion. The present bridge was erected in the 37th year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1772) through fundraising led by monk Shiming of Shangxiang Temple. It is a single-arch stone bridge aligned east-west, built with granite, featuring an arch height of 5.8 meters, a central width of 3.5 meters, an approach width of 5.2 meters, a span of 10.6 meters, and an overall length of 25.5 meters. On the east and west sides of the bridge’s abutments are inscriptions reading “Constructed in the renchen year of the Qianlong era of the Great Qing, funded by the mute monk Shiming” and “Rebuilt in the renchen year, funded by the mute monk Shiming,” respectively. It was designated as a cultural relic protection unit of Changshu City in November 1982.