Yuanhong Bridge

Yuanhong Bridge

Yuanhong Bridge is a Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Yuanhong Bridge is located in a stream in Xinqiaotou Village, Qinglian Village, Donglin Town. Built during the Song Dynasty, it has been well-preserved and remains in use as a thoroughfare through the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties to the present day. The “Shanyuan Bridge” at Jing Mountain mentioned in the Jiatai-era Wuxing Annals of the Southern Song Dynasty is very likely this bridge.

The bridge is a single-arch stone structure, oriented from north to south-southwest. It is 16 meters long and 2.9 meters wide, with an area of approximately 46 square meters. The entire bridge is built with Wukang stone. The arch is constructed with jointed, sectional stonework, and the arch ring is generally arc-shaped without voussoir cover stones.

On top, there are pressure stones and arch stones arranged in sequence, all of which are relatively small in size. The small stones are neatly arranged and firmly seated. The bridge railings are made of paired small stone columns.

The bridge deck consists of three large flagstones laid side by side, forming an overall arc shape. There are no steps on the ramps, but horse paths are provided. The wing walls are built with rectangular stone blocks laid in staggered courses, among which sky plates are placed to serve as transverse bracing structures.

The carvings on Yuanhong Bridge are intricate. The railings are designed in the style of Sumeru pedestals. The pressure stones feature carved cloud and thunder patterns, while the small stone columns are adorned with finely engraved lotus petal motifs. The bridge pier edges are decorated with finely sculpted floral patterns, presenting an elegant and refined aesthetic. The bridgehead stones are inscribed with the characters “Yuanhong Bridge.”

This bridge exhibits exquisite craftsmanship and stands as a representative example of Song Dynasty stone arch bridges in the Huzhou region. It holds significant scientific and aesthetic value, providing valuable physical material for the study of the development and evolution of Song Dynasty bridges. It also offers strong evidence for researching the route of the ancient official road from Huzhou to Hangzhou. Its shape and decorative style are consistent with those of the Shouchang Bridge, a national key cultural relics protection unit, making it the oldest and most completely preserved ancient Song Dynasty bridge discovered so far in the suburbs of Huzhou City.

Yuanhong Bridge was discovered during the third national cultural relics survey in January 2008 and was recommended as a municipal-level cultural relics protection unit by the survey team that same September. In December 2009, a panel of experts from the Huzhou Municipal Bureau of Cultural Relics further recommended it as a provincial-level cultural relics protection unit.

Source: Cangxiang Street

Qinglian Village: Located at the northwest corner of Donglin Town, Wuxing District, Huzhou City, Qinglian Village borders Dianxi Town to the west and Daochang Township to the north. Nestled amidst green hills, the village boasts abundant natural resources and beautiful surroundings. National Highway 104 runs through the village, and bus lines 301 and 303 stop here, greatly facilitating travel for local residents.

　Currently, the village has 291 farming households, 8 natural villages, and a population of 999. The village Party branch has 33 members, and the village committee consists of 5 members.

　 The village includes 343 mu of paddy fields, 6 mu of dry land, 305 mu of bamboo shoot hills, and 434 mu of bamboo forests. Among its specialties is the Cuiguan pear... More detailed information about Qinglian Village++

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units