Twin Towers Bridge

Twin Towers Bridge

The Twin Towers Bridge is a cultural heritage site protected by Suzhou Municipality.

The Twin Towers Bridge is located at the border between Guanqiao Village (formerly Beichang Village, Badu Town) in Zhenze Town, Wujiang, and Lijia Port Village in Qidu Town. It was first built during the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty (1368–1398), when an arched three-span bridge was constructed on each side of the waterway, named Shuangshi Bridge. Later, stone pagodas were built at the ends of the two bridges, which is how it got the name “Twin Towers Bridge.” In the seventh year of the Wanli reign (1579), Dong Fen from Nanxun, Zhejiang, carried out renovations, but later both bridges collapsed. In the seventh year of the Yongzheng reign (1729), local residents Sheng Xuanling and Qiu Meizhong raised funds to rebuild the bridge. The eastern span retained the arched three-span structure, while the western span was reconstructed as a beam bridge. The current bridge was renovated again in the 27th year of the Guangxu reign (1901).

The bridge is made of granite and features three arched spans running east-west across the mouth of Jiwu Pond. It is 34.3 meters long, 3.4 meters wide at the top, with a deck surface length of 3.35 meters, and 3.7 meters wide at the abutments. The central arch has a rise of 5 meters. Four ornamental pillars stand atop the deck, each carved with a stone lion. Guardrails, 0.5 meters high and 0.2 meters wide, line both sides of the bridge. There are 28 steps on each of the east and west approaches, each step being 0.46 meters wide and 0.12 meters high.

Four pairs of inscribed couplets are engraved on the sides of the Twin Towers Bridge:

On the finest fields above all others, farming and sericulture bring great prosperity;

In this vibrant land, the Buddhist temple stands at the center.

It is the foremost bridge in the Wu region, overlooking the 36,000 square li of Taihu Lake;

As for the year of its restoration, it was the 27th year of the Guangxu reign.

It faces distant Moli Peak, offering a uniquely splendid view;

It borders Jiwu Pond, where fishermen’s songs can often be heard.

The waters originate from Tianmu Mountain, and the guidance of rivers into the lake is all thanks to the efforts of Yu the Great of the Xia Dynasty;

Pagodas standing astride the bridgeheads shine brilliantly under the sun since the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty.

In 1982, the film “Du Shiniang” filmed exterior scenes at the Twin Towers Bridge and Jiwu Pond.

In September 1997, the Twin Towers Bridge was listed as a cultural relic protection unit of Wujiang City.

Source: Wujiang Archives Bureau

Guanqiao Village: Bordered by Badu Market to the south, Qidu to the north, Baqi Highway to the east, and Nanxun Town of Zhejiang Province to the west, with the Shanghai-Suzhou-Zhejiang Expressway running through the village. It was formed from the merger of the former Guanqiao and Beichang villages, with a population of 2,550, 720 households, 26 villager groups, and a total area of over 1,100 mu. … Guanqiao Village detailed information++