Shuanglin Three Bridges

Shuanglin Three Bridges

The Shuanglin Three Bridges are Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level.

Era: Qing Dynasty

Address: North of Shuanglin Town, Nanxun District, Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province

The WanKui, HuaCheng, and WanYuan bridges all span the Shuanglin Pond and are three-arch, thin-pier, thin-arch, solid-spandrel stone arch bridges. On March 16, 2005, they were listed as cultural relics protection units of Zhejiang Province, and in May 2013, they were included in the seventh batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level.

The HuaCheng Bridge is the earliest of the three bridges to be completed. It was named after the HuaCheng Nunnery monks who founded it, and is also commonly known as Tangqiao (Pond Bridge) because it spans the pond river. Originally built during the Yuan Dynasty's Yan reign period, it was initially a wooden bridge, changed to a brick bridge during the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty, then back to a wooden bridge during the Yongle era, and finally encased in stone during the Jiajing era. It underwent multiple renovations afterwards, in the third year of the Chongzhen era of the Ming Dynasty (1630) and the fifty-eighth year of the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty (1793). Today, the bridge stands 6.6 meters high, is 46 meters long, and 3.4 meters wide. Each of the north and south slopes has steps. The sides of the bridge are fitted with plain parapet panels, the tops of which are carved into Wu Wang leans, and there are 16 balusters between the panels.

The WanYuan Bridge is located 225 meters east of the HuaCheng Bridge. Its original construction date is unknown. During the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty, a wooden beam structure was built and it was called Fucheng Bridge. In the eighth year of the Yongzheng era (1730), it was encased in stone and renamed WanYuan Bridge. It was rebuilt in the fourteenth year of the Daoguang era (1834) and took seven years to complete. The bridge is 7 meters high, 51 meters long, and 3.5 meters wide, with 44 steps on each slope, making it the tallest of the Shuanglin Three Bridges. The sides are fitted with plain parapet panels, the bridge top panels are carved into Wu Wang leans, and there are 20 sitting-lion balusters between the panels. The stone pillars on both sides of the bridge are inscribed with four pairs of couplets.

The WanKui Bridge is located 122 meters west of the HuaCheng Bridge. It was encased in stone in the first year of the Kangxi era (1662) and completed in the eighth year (1669). It was reconstructed in the fifty-fifth year of the Qianlong era (1790) and completed in the fifty-eighth year (1793) alongside the HuaCheng Bridge. The bridge is 6.8 meters high, 51 meters long, and 3.2 meters wide. Each slope has 40 steps. The sides have plain parapet panels, the bridge top is carved into Wu Wang leans, the ends of the panels are fitted with drum stones, and there are 24 balusters between the panels. A pair of stone pillars on the side of the bridge are inscribed with a couplet.

Shuanglin Town: [Overview] Shuanglin Town is located at the center of the golden triangle of the Hangjiahu water town plain. The town covers a total area of 99.6 square kilometers, governs 33 administrative villages and 5 community neighborhood committees, with a total population of 82,800. Shuanglin enjoys highly convenient land and water transportation. The longitudinal Changhushen waterway double track and the Hujia Shen Expressway, which run east-west, are under construction, promising even more prominent transportation conditions and locational advantages. Shuanglin is a typical ancient water town with rich cultural heritage. The old town area boasts numerous historic sites and scenic spots, with ancient bridges, narrow lanes, and riverside corridors found everywhere. Along the Beizha Pond River, the “Three Sisters” bridges — WanYuan, HuaCheng, and WanKui — span the river side by side... More details about Shuanglin Town++

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Cultural Relics Protection Units of Zhejiang Province

· Seventh Batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level