Tianning Ancient Bridges Group

Tianning Ancient Bridges Group

The Tianning Ancient Bridges Group is a Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Unit.

The Tianning Ancient Bridges Group is located in Tianning Town, Jiashan County, dating back to the Ming Dynasty and the Republican Era.

Datong Bridge

Located on the east side of Linjiadai in Zhendong Village, Tianning Town. The central arch of the bridge is inscribed on both sides with “Reconstructed in the 7th year of the Guangxu reign (1881), Datong Bridge.” It was designated as a county-level cultural relic protection unit in June 2010.

Datong Bridge covers an area of 59 square meters. It is a five-arch stone slab flat bridge, running north-south across Linjiadai Harbor. The bridge is 32.9 meters long and 1.8 meters wide. The deck consists of three long stone slabs, while the piers and foundation are built with stone blocks. It features railings and six pairs of pier columns, with nine steps on the north side and eight on the south.

This bridge is of considerable age, remains largely intact, and is relatively rare among the five-arch bridges preserved in the Jiaxing area, giving it certain historical and artistic value.

Anlan Bridge

Located south of No. 32, Zhongxin Street, Hongxi Community, Tianning Town. It was designated as a county-level cultural relic protection site in May 2010. Covering an area of 54 square meters, Anlan Bridge is a three-arch stone slab flat bridge, running north-south across Honggang’an Harbor. The bridge is 18.8 meters long and 2.4 meters wide, with the bridge approach being 2.9 meters wide. The deck is made up of four long stone slabs. The central arch is inscribed with “Reconstructed Anlan Bridge, 5th Year of the Republic of China (1916).” One stone is missing from the railings on both the north and south sides. There are 10 steps on the south end and 13 on the north. Anlan Bridge has had significant local influence and is well-preserved, serving as a physical testament to Republican-era bridges in the county.

The original construction date of Anlan Bridge is unknown. Though small, it has three arches, and both the bridge structure and its columns feature carved inscriptions and decorative patterns. The central arch is inscribed with “5th Year of the Republic of China (1916)” and “Reconstructed Anlan Bridge,” with the inscription crediting “The people of Hongxi collectively fundraising.” Its bridge couplets read: on the east side, “Spring water converges southward to connect with Matan; merchants gather here spanning the Rainbow Creek,” and on the west side, “A single log cannot hold up the weight—people fear collapse; the wise unite to build Anlan with stone.” In the couplet, “Rainbow Creek” refers to present-day Hongxi, and “Matan” is believed to be the area now known as Matan Village. The name of the bridge, “Anlan” (meaning peaceful waves), is also referenced. Though quite refined, the bridge is surrounded by piles of garbage and murky water, somewhat spoiling the view.

Ruilin Bridge

Located southwest of No. 100, Gucheng Road, Tianning Community, Tianning Town. It is recorded on the 20th District Map in the Jiashan County Annals of the Guangxu reign during the Qing Dynasty. Due to the lion carvings on its pier columns, it is also called Lion Bridge. Designated as a county-level cultural relic protection site in January 2004, in April 2017, along with Yuantong Bridge, Anba Bridge, Anfu Bridge, and Sanlitang Bridge, it was grouped as the “Tianning Ancient Bridges Group” and declared a provincial cultural relic protection unit.

Ruilin Bridge covers an area of 66 square meters. It is a three-arch stone slab flat bridge, running north-south across Tianning South City River. The bridge is 26.3 meters long and 2.1 meters wide, with the bridge approach being 2.5 meters wide. The piers are built with four vertical stone blocks, and the deck is paved with four long stone slabs. It features solid railings and four pairs of pier columns, with the column tops carved into stone lions—13 steps on each the north and south sides. Originally built during the Qing Dynasty, this bridge still plays an important role in the daily life and production of local residents. Its most distinctive feature is the pier structure composed of four stone blocks forming a row of column piers, along with stone railings and four pairs of pier columns topped with variously shaped seated lions. Unfortunately, one of the eight lions has been damaged.

Yuantong Bridge

Located at No. 54, Gucheng Road, Tianning Community, Tianning Town. The Jiashan County Annals of the Guangxu reign record that it was reconstructed in the 18th year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty (1590). It was designated as a county-level cultural relic protection unit in December 1986. In April 2017, together with Ruilin Bridge, Anba Bridge, Anfu Bridge, and Sanlitang Bridge, it was listed as part of the “Tianning Ancient Bridges Group” and declared a provincial cultural relic protection unit.

The bridge covers an area of 87 square meters. It is a single-arch stone bridge, running north-south across Tianning South City River. The bridge is 24.6 meters long and 3.1 meters wide, with the bridge approach being 3.6 meters wide and a height of 3.8 meters. The arch ring is built with vertically jointed and sectioned courses. The bridge railing is made of bluestone in the form of a “beauty’s lean” (meirenkao). There are 20 steps on both the south and north sides. This bridge is one of the very few Ming Dynasty bridges preserved in the county, holding certain historical and artistic value.

Legend says the bridge was funded by a monk named Yuantong from Tianning Temple, hence its name. The bridge railing is entirely made of bluestone, smooth-surfaced, with some parts heavily weathered. Although lacking end drums, the rest is carved in the style of armchairs. In Suzhou gardens, pavilions or corridors often feature long benches where people can rest while leaning on the railing. These railings extend outward (usually toward the water) with backs curved like a goose’s neck. Ancients called them “goose king leans,” also known as “beauty leans.” It is said that they were made to please the beauty Xishi by King Wu of Wu. In the Suzhou dialect, “goose neck lean” sounds like “Wu king lean,” hence the alternate name. But enough digression—let’s return to the ancient bridge.

Anba Bridge

Located in Louxi Natural Village, Tianning Village, Tianning Town. It was designated as a county-level protection site in May 2010, and in April 2017, along with Ruilin Bridge, Yuantong Bridge, Anfu Bridge, and Sanlitang Bridge, it was grouped as the “Tianning Ancient Bridges Group” and declared a provincial cultural relic protection unit.

Anba Bridge covers an area of 39 square meters. It is a single-arch stone slab flat bridge, running east-west across Guanlou Harbor. The bridge is 16.8 meters long and 2.2 meters wide, with the bridge approach being 2.3 meters wide. The piers are built with stacked stone blocks, with four long stone slabs in the middle, and the deck is paved with four long stone slabs. The arch sides are inscribed with “Constructed in the Year of Yichou, Republic of China (1926).” It has railings and two pairs of pier columns, with 12 steps on both the east and west sides. Though not very old, the bridge is relatively well-preserved and serves as a physical example for studying Republican-era bridges.

Anfu Bridge

Located in Yujiamuqiao Natural Village, Hongfu Village, Tianning Town. It was designated as a county-level cultural relic protection site in May 2010, and in April 2017, along with Ruilin Bridge, Yuantong Bridge, Anba Bridge, and Sanlitang Bridge, it was grouped as the “Tianning Ancient Bridges Group” and declared a provincial cultural relic protection unit.

Anfu Bridge covers an area of 34 square meters. It is a three-arch stone slab flat bridge, running north-south across Yujiaqiao Harbor. The bridge is 19 meters long and 1.8 meters wide. The deck is paved with three long stone slabs, and the piers are built with three long stone slabs. The central arch is inscribed with “Newly Built Anfu Bridge, 2nd Year of the Republic of China (1913).” It has railings and four pairs of pier columns, with exquisitely carved decorations including flowers, grass dragons, and taiji birds. There are 12 steps on both the north and south sides. This bridge is of considerable age and remains largely intact, holding certain historical and artistic value.

On January 13, 2017, the People's Government of Zhejiang Province announced it as part of the 7th batch of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units.

Tianning Town: The water town of Tianning is located in the northwest of Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province, within the Hangjiahu Plain and the hinterland of Shanghai-Hangzhou-Suzhou, in the golden zone of the Yangtze River Delta. It lies 90 kilometers east of the international metropolis Shanghai, 110 kilometers west of the provincial capital Hangzhou, 60 kilometers north of the key city Suzhou in southern Jiangsu, and 45 kilometers east of the major port of Zhapu. The Hongtang River runs through the area, connecting to the Huangpu River to the east and the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal to the west. The town covers an area of 21.7 square kilometers with a population of 22,000. Tianning features flat terrain, a dense network of waterways, and a bustling scene of boats and sails, earning it the reputation of “Land of Fish and Rice, Pearl of Aquatic Products”... More details about Tianning Town++

Further Reading:

· 7th Batch of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units