Cunde Bridge

Cunde Bridge

Locally known as Dongqiao (Hole Bridge), Cunde Bridge is located on Xiaohé (Small River) in Dongqiao Xiajie, Dongqiao Village, Lizhu Town, Keqiao District. It spans the village river from north to south and is a single-arch stone bridge dating back to the Qing Dynasty. The bridge is 15 meters long, 2.5 meters wide, with a rise of 3 meters and a clear span of 5.26 meters.

The deck is square-shaped, featuring a central keystone, with one pier and railing panel each on the eastern and western sides. The tops of the piers are carved with crouching lions. The outer side of the western railing panel features an intaglio relief of two lions playing with a silk ball, while the outer side of the eastern panel shows a bas-relief of two dragons playing with a qilin (mythical creature). The arch is semicircular, built using stone slabs arranged in a longitudinal jointed, sectional, and parallel pattern. At the top of the arch is a lintel stone with shallow relief, though the design has become unclear. The arch spandrel stones are inscribed in relief with the bridge’s name “Cunde Qiao” (Cunde Bridge) in regular script, although the upper and lower inscriptions have faded. The bridge abutments on the east and west sides are built with irregularly laid stone slabs, each supporting a water-drawing beast-shaped tie stone. Above these are 15 stepped approach slabs on each side, flanked by piers, solid railing panels, and drum stones.

This bridge is simple and sturdy in style, with exquisite carvings and distinct characteristics of the water town. It holds significant scientific, historical, and artistic value, and provides important reference for the study of the history of ancient bridges in Shaoxing’s water town region.

Lizhu Town: Lizhu Town derives its name from the river. According to the "Miscellaneous Records of Yue Region", “Lizhu (also pronounced Li), located thirty li west of the prefectural city, originates from the mountains to the southwest, meandering and converging at Lizhu.” The area was named after the Li (or Lizhu) River, with an islet in the river giving the place its name. Lanzhu Mountain within the town was where the ancient Yue King Goujian planted orchids, while the Tingshi Mountain area contains cultural relics from the Han, Wei, and Six Dynasties periods. During the Ming Dynasty, Lizhu served as a pass outside the city, known as Lizhu Pass. In the Qing Dynasty, it became known as Lizhu Market. In 1932, during the Republic of China era, it was established as a town, changed to a township in 1935, and reinstated as a town in 1940. In May 1949, it reverted to being Lizhu Township. In August 1984, it was re-established as a chartered town. 19... More details about Lizhu Town++