Hongji Bridge in Luyuan

Hongji Bridge in Luyuan

Hongji Bridge in Luyuan is a cultural relic protection unit of Jiangsu Province.

Located on East Street of the ancient Luyuan town (now Tangqiao Town), this bridge is said to have been funded by the monk Hongji, hence its name, and is also known as Luyuan Bridge. It was built in the fifth year of the Tianqi era of the Ming Dynasty (1625).

The bridge has a total length of 33.5 meters, a width of 3.55 meters, and is composed of three arches. The arch rings are made of granite and feature a longitudinal jointed segmental and contiguous structure. The eastern side has 27 steps, the western side has 20 steps, the central span is 6.35 meters high with a span of 11.5 meters. The railing on the southern side is made of bluestone, and that on the northern side is made of granite. It runs from east to west, spanning the three major Pu rivers.

On the northern side of the bridge, there are three characters “Hong Ji Qiao” (Hongji Bridge) inscribed by Qian Qianyi, a minister of the Ming Dynasty. Despite over 360 years having passed, apart from the bridge approaches at both ends being silted up, the bridge remains as solid as ever.

Transportation

Buses 201 and 211 are available.

Tangqiao Town: Located at the intersection of China’s coastal and Yangtze River economic development zones, Tangqiao Town in Zhangjiagang City, Jiangsu Province lies in the southeastern part of Zhangjiagang, an emerging port city in the Yangtze River Delta. It is surrounded by major cities such as Shanghai, Nanjing, Suzhou, Wuxi, Changzhou, and Nantong. To the east is the under-construction Sutong Yangtze River Bridge, to the south is the Riverside Expressway, to the west are the Suyuzhang First-Class Highway and the Jiangyin Yangtze River Bridge, and to the north is the golden waterway of the Yangtze River. National Highway 204 runs directly from north to south, while Provincial Highway 338 spans from east to west. The town covers a total area of 94.4 square kilometers with a population of nearly 200,000, including a registered population of 89,000... More details about Tangqiao Town++

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Jiangsu Province