Xiankou Cave Bridge

Xiankou Cave Bridge

Xiankou Cave Bridge is a cultural relic protection unit of Zhejiang Province.

The cave bridge is located in Xiankou Village, Zaoxi Town, Cangnan County. It is 10 meters long, 3.40 meters wide, and about 30 meters high, built with stone in a semi-circular arch. The arch was constructed using the method of longitudinal bonding, spanning a deep ravine between two mountains. Beside the bridge stands a “Proclamation by Imperial Order” stele erected in the 25th year of the Daoguang reign (1845). According to the inscription on the stele, this location was a perilous pass along the Zhejiang–Fujian courier route. Former licentiate Zhou Culi, scholar Li Sui, Ouyang Jing, and others donated funds to build the bridge, which was completed in the 56th year of the Qianlong reign (1791). The bridge is both precipitous and spectacular, and local legend says it was built by immortals.

Source: Wenzhou Museum