Lianyuan Bridge

Lianyuan Bridge

Lianyuan Bridge is a cultural relic protection unit of Suzhou.

Lianyuan Bridge is located in Bace Community, Songling Town, Wujiang District, spanning the Nan Port and connecting Zhongxin Street with Nanhao Street.

Its original construction date is unknown. In the 13th year of the Tongzhi reign during the Qing Dynasty (1874), local residents donated funds to rebuild the bridge for the convenience of pedestrians. On July 29, 1994, it was listed as a cultural relic control unit of Wujiang District. This single-arch beam-style stone bridge runs from north to south. It has a total length of 18.9 meters, a width of 3.3 meters, an arch height of 3 meters, and a span of 6.6 meters. The bridge is equipped with stone railings; the original stone lion carvings on the railing pillars, which featured various poses, were destroyed during the Cultural Revolution as symbols of the “Four Olds.” The bridge is constructed with bluestone and granite, with the bridge pillars made of granite. The pillars feature couplets: “Celebrating the completion of the bridge in the fourth month” and “Rejoicing in the nation’s longevity, its name endures for a thousand autumns;” the next part reads, “The momentum embraces mountains and rivers, nurturing refined culture,” but the last eight characters are obscured by nearby riverside houses and illegible. In recent years, for the convenience of cyclists crossing the bridge, a concrete ramp has been built on the bridge steps.

Source: Wujiang Archives Bureau