Ancient Bridges of Youbu

Ancient Bridges of Youbu

The Ancient Bridges of Youbu are listed as a Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Heritage site.

The Ancient Bridges of Youbu are located in Youbu Town, Lanxi City, dating back to the Qing Dynasty.

The ancient bridges in Youbu have a long history and come in various forms. Within the town alone, there are five ancient bridges: Yongfu Bridge, Yong’an Bridge, Taiping Bridge, Yongji Bridge, and Liaoxi Bridge. All five stone bridges were built during the Qing era, among which Yongfu Bridge is the longest and tallest ancient stone arch bridge in the town.

Yongfu Bridge is approximately 36.90 meters long and about 5.40 meters wide. It is situated in the middle to southern part of the Youbu Stream and connects Liberation Street to Xiang Yong’an Li, serving as a single-arch stone bridge. From its highest point to the ground, it stands about 3–4 meters tall. This design was intended to allow floodwaters to pass through without causing excessive impact on the bridge. The entire structure is built from large, intact bluestone slabs, with the largest slab weighing up to 100 kilograms. In the past, a firewood market was located on the west side of the bridge, hence its nickname “Firewood Market Bridge.” The bridge features stepped stone stairs. It is only for pedestrian use, as carts and horses generally find it difficult to cross. To address this limitation, Yong’an Bridge was later constructed.

Yong’an Bridge is located in the middle section of the Youbu Stream. It is approximately 22.40 meters long and about 2.40 meters wide. Originally a wooden bridge, it was rebuilt into a reinforced concrete bridge in June 1964 and widened to 4.5 meters. Railings were added along the sides, allowing for motor vehicle access. The west side of the bridge was once a small pig market, hence it is also called Pig Market Bridge. Elders recall that in the past, pigs from Youbu were very famous, attracting buyers from hundreds of miles around. As a result, this bridge was the liveliest of all. It has been praised with the phrase “Willows by the market bridge sway fine, wild plum blossoms scent the stream nearby.”

Taiping Bridge is located at the northern end of the Youbu Stream, spanning between Taiping Li and Liberation Street. Built in the 24th year of the Daoguang reign (1844), it is a double-arched stone bridge with axe-shaped piers. A pair of guardian stone lions sit atop the bridge piers. The bridge is about 28.2 meters long and 4.37 meters wide. On the east side of the bridge, there used to be a release pond and a stone stele. The west side once hosted a charcoal market, earning it the nickname Charcoal Market Bridge. Unfortunately, due to years of neglect, Taiping Bridge collapsed in 1999 and disappeared from public view.

Yongji Bridge is a double-arched stone bridge, approximately 30 meters long and 4.55 meters wide, originally constructed during the Qing Dynasty. The bridge railing consists of 20 balusters and 18 rail panels. The balusters are 1.20 meters tall, and the four central ones at the bridge’s head feature carved stone lions in pairs. The remaining balusters are topped with square, waisted capitals. The central rail panels are adorned with carvings of trees, flowers, and colorful bridges. An axe-shaped pier holds a guardian stone lion, and the middle of the bridge bears a carved stone plaque inscribed with “Yongji Bridge.” There used to be a pavilion at the bridgehead, but it no longer exists. This may be the most exquisitely designed of all the bridges.

Among these five bridges, Liaoxi Bridge also has a beautiful ancient legend.

Liaoxi Bridge is approximately 27.50 meters long and 2 meters wide. It spans the Liaoxi Stream to the north of the town and connects Shuangxi Road to the bridge’s approach. Constructed in the 19th year of the Daoguang reign (1839) by the Zhang Xiaoyou Hall, it is a 3-pier, 4-span bluestone flat bridge. Liaoxi Bridge is also known as Rocking-Cradle Bridge, a name that hints at its association with a baby rocking device.

Legend has it that in ancient times, in the village of Liaoxi Bridge, there lived a widow who made her living by spinning thread. The 13th day of the fifth lunar month marked the first day of the Youbu Temple Fair, an extremely lively event. People from all directions flocked to the fair, and this woman was no exception. Just as everyone was enjoying themselves, dark clouds rolled in, and a torrential rain poured down. The river quickly swelled, sweeping away the wooden bridge that spanned the stream, leaving people unable to cross. Faced with the rushing waters, everyone grew worried. At that moment, the widow thought to herself: If only this had been a stone bridge, it wouldn’t have been washed away; if only this had been a stone bridge, people could still have crossed even as the water rose…

On January 13, 2017, the People's Government of Zhejiang Province designated it as part of the seventh batch of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Heritage sites.

Youbu Town: A town under the jurisdiction of Lanxi City. It is one of the main grain and cotton producing areas in Lanxi. Established as Youbu Town in 1950, it was reorganized as a commune in 1958 and reverted to town status in 1959. Located in the southwestern part of the city, on the north bank of the Qu River, it covers an area of 63.5 square kilometers with a population of 42,000. The under-construction Hangzhou–Jinhua–Quzhou Expressway passes through the town and includes an interchange here. The town administers two neighborhood committees—Zhongshan Street and Liberation Street—and 21 villages including Qianye, Xiaye, Wujiawei, Zhongzhou, Zhujia, Lijia, Zhimen, Shaojia, Wanggang, Jiemenzhang, Xiawang, Xiazhang, Mozao Tang, Yangtiantian, Antou, Qiantong, Maocun, Huangbitang, Hugutou, and Jiang... More detailed information on Youbu Town++

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Heritage Sites