Shengze Zhonghe Bridge

Shengze Zhonghe Bridge

Zhonghe Bridge is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Jiangsu Province.

Zhonghe Bridge, located on Wangjiazhuang Street in Shengze Town, Wujiang District, Suzhou City, spans the city river. The year of its original construction is unknown. It was rebuilt in the fourth year of the Daoguang reign during the Qing Dynasty (1824). Oriented east-west, the single-arch beam bridge is entirely constructed of granite. The middle section is 2.65 meters wide, the approach ends are 3.05 meters wide, the total length is 18.50 meters, the height is 3.70 meters, and the span is 5.50 meters. Each of the two bridge abutments features an arched drainage hole with inscribed lintels. The southern ones are inscribed with “Bo Yue” (Moon Waves) and “Mei Chuan” (Charming River), while the northern ones read “Yi Xiu” (Graceful Beauty) and “Ti Yun” (Cloud Ladder). The inscriptions on the bridge’s sides are: “The northern beauty spans like a rainbow, merging with the virtues of water; Zhonghe stands as cultivation, embodying literary grace” and “Golden waves reflect afar the Red Pear Ferry; a jade belt hangs long over Green Dawn Village.” The side of the bridge is engraved with the words “Rebuilt Zhonghe Bridge.” Warning texts such as “No Dumping into Bridge” are carved on the bridge pillars. In addition to text, the central keystone is carved with a samsara (wheel of life) pattern, the bridge ears feature the Eight Immortals, and the side stones of the bridge are adorned with scroll motifs—demonstrating elegant aesthetics and ingenious craftsmanship.

The couplet on the north side reads: “Golden waves reflect afar the Red Pear Ferry; a jade belt hangs long over Green Dawn Village.” In the first line, “Red Pear Ferry” is located by the Qiaobei Pond in the northwest of Shengze Town. Legend has it that Shen Wansan, a wealthy tycoon of the Ming Dynasty, once planted ten thousand red pear trees here, hence the name. “Red Pear” also became an alias for Shengze. The second line refers to “Green Dawn Village,” or Green Dawn Studio, situated at the eastern end of Zhonghe Bridge. It was the residence of Bu Shunnian, a scholar of the Ming Dynasty. After his passing, the place came to be known as Green Dawn Village. This couplet pairs two scenic spots in the town—“Red Pear Ferry” and “Green Dawn Village.”

The couplet on the south side reads: “The northern beauty spans like a rainbow, merging with the virtues of water; Zhonghe stands as cultivation, embodying literary grace.” In the first line, “Northern Beauty” refers to a former ward name in Shengze. Historical records indicate that during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty, besides three main streets and eight lanes, Shengze had five wards: Xiuyuan Ward, Shangyi Ward, Nansheng Ward, and Beisheng Ward (divided into north and south sections). Beisheng Ward was located near Xieqiao (Oblique Bridge), built by Shen Wansan of the Ming Dynasty. “Northern Beauty Spanning Rainbow” refers to Xieqiao, located south of Zhonghe Bridge. This beam bridge also spans Xieqiao River and was built in the seventh year of the Chenghua reign of the Ming Dynasty (1471), rebuilt in the fifth year of the Jiaqing reign of the Qing Dynasty (1800), and has since been reconstructed. The second line’s “Zhonghe” refers both to Zhonghe Bridge and to the Confucian ethical concept.

In March 2019, Zhonghe Bridge was announced by the provincial government as part of the eighth batch of cultural heritage sites protected at the provincial level in Jiangsu Province.

Shengze Town: Located at the southernmost tip of Jiangsu Province, Shengze lies within the Taihu Lake Basin. The area features vast fertile plains, numerous lakes and ponds, a warm climate, and abundant rainfall, making it suitable for growing rice and wheat as well as raising silkworms and mulberry trees. It is a renowned land of fish and rice and a capital of silk. The town covers an area of 118 square kilometers, including a built-up urban area of 22 square kilometers. It has a permanent population of 180,000, including 107,000 registered residents and approximately 70,000 migrant workers and businesspeople. Shengze Town is an economic hub of Wujiang City, particularly strong in industrial output.

Shengze Town is an economic hub of Wujiang City, particularly strong in industrial output... More details about Shengze Town++

Further Reading:

· Eighth Batch of Cultural Heritage Sites Protected at the Provincial Level in Jiangsu Province