Lanxi Tongzhou Bridge

Lanxi Tongzhou Bridge

Lanxi Tongzhou Bridge is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Tongzhou Bridge is located in Tashanjiao Village, Meijiang Town, Lanxi City, spanning the Meixi River.

Tashan Village was once a strategic pass between Jinhua-Quzhou and Yanzhou. To overcome the barrier of the Meixi River, the villagers joined forces to build Tongzhou Bridge. Originally a wooden structure, it was built in the 23rd year of the Qianlong reign (1758) and destroyed by floods in the 5th year of the Jiaqing reign (1800). It was reconstructed with stone in the 12th year of the Guangxu reign (1886). The bridge features six piers and five arches, with a circular arched corridor-style design. The total length of the bridge is 84.8 meters, with a deck width of 4 meters. The arches have a rise of 8 meters and a clear span of 9 meters. The arches are built using the method of longitudinal bonding. The deck is paved with flagstones, and stone railings line both sides. The bridge is covered with 21 corridor rooms, with double-eaved hip-and-gable gate towers at both ends, featuring upturned eaves and a plaque inscribed with “Tongzhou Bridge” hanging in the center. The upstream side of the piers is designed with cutwaters to effectively break the force of the floodwaters. Surrounded by green hills, crisscrossed fields, and winding streams, the ancient lush camphor trees at the bridge ends complement the corridor bridge beautifully.

“With a hundred-foot expanse of waves below and twenty raftered waterside pavilions above,” it adds boundless poetic charm to the landscape.

This bridge, along with the Shuxi Bridge in Wuyi and the Xijin Bridge in Yongkang, are all covered corridor-style wooden bridges with historical, scientific, and artistic value. At the bridgehead lies a small hill called “Guazhongjian.” Atop the hill stands an exquisite “Wenchang Pavilion.” The bridge and pavilion create a uniquely styled scene together.

The love story between Cao Juren, a giant of contemporary literature, and his first wife Wang Chuncai, an educator, began here. The American writer Robert had a novel titled *The Bridges of Madison County*, which once captivated the world. But the romance between Cao and Wang on this corridor bridge unfolds an even more poignant and touching Eastern version of “The Bridges of Madison County.” Though the people are long gone, the bridge remains. Today, Tongzhou Bridge has become a tourist attraction for the people of Lanxi. Nestled against Guazhongjian and facing Zhuyetan, with the gentle spring breeze and murmuring stream, it has become a “Shangri-La” for young lovers and holds undying romantic memories for many.

On October 7, 2019, Lanxi Tongzhou Bridge was included in the eighth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Cao Juren (1900–1972), also known by his courtesy name Tingshou, literary name Tingtao, and pen names Yuan Dalang, Chen Si, Peng Guanqing, Ding Zhou, among others, was born on July 7, 1900, in Pujiang, Zhejiang (now Lanxi). In 1915, he was admitted to the First Normal School of Zhejiang in Hangzhou. During the May Fourth Movement, he served as the chairman of the Student Self-Government Association and edited *Zhejiang New Tide*.

In 1921, he went to Shanghai to establish Cangsheng Public School and taught at Patriotic Girls' School while contributing to the “Consciousness” supplement of the *Republican Daily*. In 1922, he recorded Zhang Taiyan’s lectures on traditional Chinese studies, later compiling them into *An Outline of Chinese National Studies*... More details on Cao Juren ++

Further reading:

· Fourth Batch of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Eighth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units