The Twin Bridges of Fushui

The Twin Bridges of Fushui

The Twin Bridges of Fushui is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Changshou Bridge and Xianghua Bridge on Fushui Qingyan are collectively known as the Twin Bridges of Fushui.

The Changshou Bridge is situated in front of the mountain gate of Zanghai Temple, spanning between two cliffs and carrying the waters of the Fushui Stream. It was built by Yan Neng, Minister of Personnel during the Ming Dynasty’s Jiajing era, Grand Secretary of the Wuying Hall, and a native of this locality, at the same time as the construction of Zhenwu Yuan (later known as Baoguo Temple). In the year of Guisi during the Guangxu reign (1893), Daoji, the head monk of Zanghai Temple, renovated the bridge. Later, iron railings were added to ensure visitor safety.

This bridge is a single-arch flat bridge, oriented east-west, with a base made of bluestone. The bridge deck is formed by three parallel granite slabs. It has a clear span of 4 meters, a width of 1.5 meters, a height of 4.9 meters, and a total length of 15 meters. The south side of the bridge slab is inscribed with the name “Changshou Bridge,” alongside smaller characters reading “Built by Ming’s Yan Wenjing, rebuilt in Guangxu Guisi,” and it is now a municipal-level cultural relic protection unit.

The Xianghua Bridge, adjacent to the Changshou Bridge in a T-shape, was built in the year of Xinyou during the Guangxu reign (1891), funded through donations raised by Daoji, the head monk of Zanghai Temple. The bridge is a single-arch structure, built from granite, with the arch constructed using a longitudinal joint, sectional, and parallel masonry technique. It is oriented north-south, with a width of 3.25 meters, a rise of 1.6 meters, 16 steps on either side, and a total length of 8.5 meters.

. The east-facing bridge pillar is inscribed with the couplet: “The bow-shaped shadow soars through the air, connecting myriad valleys; the flower’s name uniquely perfumes through layers of gates.” The west-facing bridge pillar bears the couplet: “The rainbow lies prone above rushing springs and rocks; the duck-step arrangement reveals clouds and mist appearing and vanishing.”

This bridge features an elegant and dynamic design, with exquisitely balanced inscribed couplets. Alongside the adjacent Changshou Bridge, it presents distinct forms and is also a municipal-level cultural relic protection unit.