Anlan Bridge

Anlan Bridge

Anlan Bridge

It is situated to the south of No. 32, Zhongxin Street, Hongxi Community, Tianning Town. In May 2010, it was designated as a county-level cultural heritage site. The bridge covers an area of 54 square meters and is a three-arch stone slab flat bridge, extending from north to south across Honggang’an Harbor. It is 18.8 meters in length, with a bridge deck 2.4 meters wide and abutments 2.9 meters wide. The deck is made up of four long stone slabs, and the central arch bears the inscription “Reconstructed Anlan Bridge, Fifth Year of the Republic of China (1916).” One stone slab is missing from the railings on both the north and south sides. There are 10 steps on the south side of the bridge and 13 on the north. Anlan Bridge has had considerable local influence and remains relatively well preserved, serving as a tangible relic for the study of bridges from the Republican era in the county.

The original construction date of Anlan Bridge is unknown. Though small, it features three arches, and both the bridge structure and its pillars are adorned with carved inscriptions and decorative patterns. The central arch bears the inscriptions “Fifth Year of the Republic of China (1916)” and “Reconstructed Anlan Bridge,” with the credit line “Donated by the people of Hongxi.” The bridge’s couplets read: the eastern side says “Spring water converges southward to connect with Matan; merchants gather here spanning the Rainbow Stream,” while the western side reads “A single tree cannot hold up the weight; people fear collapse at the top; many sages unite to help build the tranquil bridge.” In these couplets, “Rainbow Stream” refers to today’s Hongxi, and “Matan” presumably indicates the area now known as Matan Village. They also hint at the origin of the bridge’s name, “Anlan” (meaning “tranquil waves”). Although the bridge is quite exquisite, it is surrounded by piles of garbage and the river water is extremely polluted, somewhat spoiling the scenery.

Hongxi Community: Hongxi Community is located in the northeastern part of Tianning Town (the former site of the Hongxi Town urban area), bordering Zhendong Village to the east, Hongfu Village to the south, Hongxi Village to the west, and Sanfa Village to the north. It covers an area of 1 square kilometer. The community consists of 10 residential zones, with 437 registered households and a registered population of 779. The permanent resident population includes over 800 households and about 3,000 people, including 800 new residents. The community Party branch has 36 registered members, and the two committees consist of five members. The community is fully equipped with public facilities, including a home-based elderly care center, a community education center, a public basketball court, and a senior gateball court… More details about Hongxi Community++