Yuji Bridge

Yuji Bridge

Yuji Bridge is a cultural heritage site protected by the Suzhou Municipal Government.

Yuji Bridge is located to the east of Bao Ta Street in Zhenze Town, Wujiang District, Suzhou City, spanning the ancient ? Pond. It was built in the 54th year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1715) by local residents to commemorate the achievements of Yu the Great in flood control. It was renovated in the 40th year of the Qianlong reign (1775) and rebuilt in the 44th year (1779). The bridge runs north-south and has a single-arch stone structure. The arch is constructed using the longitudinal-jointed segmented parallel method. The bridge deck is 4.30 meters wide, with a total length of 43.50 meters. The southern abutment is 6.20 meters wide, and the northern abutment has stone staircases on both the eastern and western sides. The span is 10.45 meters, and the rise is 5.56 meters.

The stone slabs on the bridge deck and the keystone inside the arch are carved with “Samsara” and “Cloud Dragon” designs, respectively. Each side—east and west—features a pair of couplets. The eastern couplet reads: “Good governance remains, the great name unchanged still follows Yu’s traces; in this prosperous age specially rebuilt, restoring the ancient form during Emperor Yao’s tour.” The western couplet reads: “The market near the lake _, no need to call out by the waterside as shoulders brush; this land lies at Zhe’s end, so fertile fields should yield many talents to inscribe on pillars.” The stone steps of the bridge deck are carved with various auspicious patterns. Not far away stands the ancient Ciyun Pagoda; the arching rainbow of the bridge and the leaning shadow of the tower form a unique waterscape unique to Zhenze.

On July 1, 1986, Yuji Bridge was designated by the municipal government as part of the second group of cultural heritage sites protected by Wujiang City. Due to changes in administrative divisions, it was reclassified as a Suzhou Municipal Cultural Heritage Site in September 2012.