Three Ancient Stone Bridges

Three Ancient Stone Bridges

The numerous bridges not only facilitated transportation between the townships and nearby towns, but also possess significant architectural and artistic value. Currently, eight ancient bridges are designated as municipal-level cultural heritage sites in Huzhou: Tongjin, Hongji, Guanghui, WanKui, WanGu, Chuihong, and Wangyue. Among these, those still referred to as Nanxun’s Three Ancient Stone Bridges are: Guanghui Bridge, Tongjin Bridge, and Hongji Bridge. In March 1989, the Three Ancient Stone Bridges were listed as municipal cultural heritage sites of Huzhou.

Guanghui Bridge: Located in front of Guanghui Palace, this single-arch stone bridge has an uncertain construction date. It was renovated in the fifth year of the Jiaqing reign of the Qing Dynasty and rebuilt in the fifth year of the Tongzhi reign. The bridge is 18 meters long and 3.3 meters wide, with an arch rise of 5.3 meters. There are 24 steps on both the upper and lower sides, and the arch stones are laid using the method of vertical jointing with segmented parallel placement.

Tongjin Bridge: Situated at the center of old Nanxun Town, it lies at the intersection of a cross-shaped water system. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the area around Tongjin Bridge became a bustling silk market. To the south of the bridge is a small street called Sihangdai, historically known for its silk trade and once serving as a distribution hub for “Jili Lake Silk.”

Hongji Bridge: Located in the eastern section of Nanxun Town, it spans the canal and is commonly known as the New Bridge. The southern end of the bridge is on Xiatai East Street, while the northern end is on East Main Street. The Hongji Bridge is mentioned in the Huzhou Prefecture Records from the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty, and it was rebuilt in the sixteenth year of the Jiaqing reign of the Qing Dynasty.