Xianghua Bridge in Zhenze

Xianghua Bridge in Zhenze

Commonly known as Xianghuo Bridge, it is located in Shiduli, Longjiangqiao Village, Badu Community, Zhenze Town, Wujiang City.

It was first built during the Southern Song Dynasty (1127–1279). Rebuilt in the 24th year of the Jiaqing reign during the Qing Dynasty (1819), it has undergone multiple renovations over time. On July 1, 1986, it was listed as a cultural relic protection unit of Wujiang County.

This is a beam-type three-span stone bridge running east to west. The total length is 16.1 meters, with a central width of 2.09 meters, abutment width of 2.55 meters, a central span arch height of 3.66 meters, and a central span length of 4.66 meters. The two side spans are 2.8 meters and 2.76 meters respectively. The central span piers consist of three vertical stone slabs, each 4.26 meters long, 0.7 meters wide, and 0.3 meters thick. The tops of the piers are fitted with four sleeper stones, each 3.09 meters long, 0.5 meters wide, and 0.3 meters thick. The central span stone beams are 4.8 meters long, 0.8 meters wide, and 0.4 meters thick. Grooves are carved into the inner sides of the beams, with 14 stone slabs laid horizontally across the middle—each slab being 0.48 meters long, 0.33 meters wide, and 0.14 meters thick. The side span stone beams are 3.25 meters long, 0.68 meters wide, and 0.4 meters thick. The bridge deck features 10 stone slabs laid horizontally across the middle on both the north and south sides—each slab is 0.72 meters long, 0.32 meters wide, and 0.14 meters thick. The entire bridge's columns and beams are constructed from Wukang stone, while the stones between the beams and the bridge abutments incorporate some bluestone and granite. The bridge has no railings, and the stair-like steps on both sides are paved with whole stone slabs: seven steps on the eastern side and four on the western side, each step 0.3 meters wide and 0.13 meters high. Each stone beam on the bridge deck gradually thickens from the ends toward the center, with the outer edges carved in an arc. Though it is a beam bridge, the overall deck resembles an arch, exuding a robust yet graceful beauty that retains the style of Song Dynasty bridges.

Locally, Xianghua Bridge is called “Xianghuo Bridge.” Both its official and common names are related to Buddhist practices. “Xianghua” is a Buddhist term, often paired with “gongyang” (offering), referring to a form of Buddhist ceremonial reverence. “Xianghuo” refers to incense and lamp flames—items offered before Buddhist statues—and is extended to mean worship and offerings. Legend has it that during the Southern Song Dynasty, the bridge was situated where the South Port lay to the south and the North Port to the north. These two ports connected to Xujiayang to the west and merged to the east, forming a single embankment. On this embankment stood the Pujisi Temple (commonly known as Qilin Temple), which enjoyed great popularity at the time. To facilitate pilgrims’ worship, the temple’s abbot used funds donated by worshippers to build this bridge, hence its alternate name, Xianghuo Bridge.

Source: Wujiang Archives Bureau

Zhenze Town: This water town in the Jiangnan region is located in the southwestern part of Wujiang City, Jiangsu Province, adjacent to Zhejiang Province. Historically known as the “head of Wu and tail of Yue,” it lies 90 kilometers east of Shanghai and 54 kilometers north of Suzhou. It is traversed by National Highway 318 and the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, offering very convenient land and water transportation. The town covers a total area of 57 square kilometers, including an urban area of 3.93 square kilometers and nearly 40,000 mu (approximately 2,667 hectares) of arable land. The total population is over 50,000. The town has well-developed infrastructure, including one 220kV and one 110kV substation, a 25,000-ton ground-level water plant, and mobile communication transmission stations. More details about Zhenze Town++