Shengze Bailong Bridge

Shengze Bailong Bridge

Shengze Bailong Bridge is a cultural heritage site protected by the Suzhou municipal government.

Bailong Bridge is situated in Bailongqiao Village, Tanzhou, Shengze Town, Wujiang District, Suzhou. To its east is Xianzidun, and to its west, Xiaoniudang, with the bridge crossing a broad expanse of water. It was initially built in the early years of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty, rebuilt in the 34th year of the Guangxu reign (1908), and completed by the 3rd year of the Xuantong reign (1911). The bridge runs from north to south and has a three-arch design. The arches were built using the method of “longitudinal jointing with segmented alignment,” all constructed from granite. To resist wave impact and prevent collapse, stone embankments were built at both ends. The bridge is 3.80 meters wide and 40.60 meters long. The central arch has a rise of 5.60 meters and a span of 9.90 meters. The two side arches are smaller than the central one, giving the bridge a dynamic and graceful profile, resembling a flight of wild geese across the sky. The coping stones and the keystone of the arches are carved with auspicious motifs such as “Brush and Ingot for Good Fortune,” “Vase with Three Halberds for Promotion,” “Cloud Dragon,” and “Taiji.” The bridge bears four pairs of inscribed couplets, one of which reads: “The wind carries the sounds of myriad looms—do not say that many hands make the work light; the sun stirs waves a thousand feet high—when you drink, remember the source.” This vividly depicts the thriving textile industry of Shengze and offers a glimpse into the prosperity of the water towns in those days.

On July 1, 1986, Bailong Bridge was listed by the municipal government as part of the second batch of cultural heritage sites protected by Wujiang City. In September 2012, due to changes in the administrative divisions of Wujiang, it was reclassified as a cultural heritage site protected by the Suzhou municipal government.