Yuantong Bridge

Yuantong Bridge

Yuantong Bridge is a cultural relics protection unit of Jiashan County.

Yuantong Bridge is located at No. 54 Gucheng Road, Tianning Community, Tianning Town. It dates back to the Ming Dynasty and is classified as an ancient architectural structure.

The Jiashan County Annals from the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty recorded that it was rebuilt in the 18th year of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty (1590). In December 1986, it was designated as a county-level cultural relics protection unit. 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-level cultural relics protection unit.

The bridge covers an area of 87 square meters and is a single-arch stone bridge, stretching from north to south across the Tianning South Market River. It is 24.6 meters long, with a bridge deck width of 3.1 meters and an abutment width of 3.6 meters. The arch has a rise of 3.8 meters. The arch ring is constructed using a method of vertical bonding with separate sections. The bridge railing is made of bluestone and designed as a “beauty’s rest.” There are 20 steps on both the south and north sides. This bridge is one of the very few Ming Dynasty bridges preserved in our county and holds certain historical and artistic value.

Legend has it that the bridge was funded and built by a monk named Yuantong from Tianning Temple, hence the name Yuantong Bridge. The bridge’s railings are entirely made of bluestone, smooth-surfaced, with some parts heavily weathered. There are no end drums installed, but the rest is carved in the style of armchairs. Beside pavilions or corridors in Suzhou gardens, there is often a long bench where people can lean and rest. This type of railing extends outward (usually toward the water), featuring a streamlined backrest resembling the curved neck of a goose. The ancients called it a “goose king rest,” also known as a “beauty’s rest.” It is said that King Wu of Wu had it made to please the beauty Xi Shi. In the Suzhou dialect, “goose neck rest” sounds similar to “King Wu rest,” hence it is also called “King Wu rest.” But enough digressing—let’s return to the ancient bridge.

On December 15, 1986, Yuantong Bridge was designated as a cultural relics protection unit of Jiashan County.

Tianning Community: Centered around the Tianning town area, Tianning Community spans from Zhaokou Bridge in the east to Yinjia Port in the west, Xu Xiang Pond in the south, and Tianning Middle School in the north. The jurisdiction area is approximately 3.8 square kilometers. As of the end of 2013, there were 418 registered households and 986 registered residents, with 36 resident representatives divided among 4 management grids. The community Party branch has 34 registered Party members and 15 working Party members, and the community’s two committees consist of 4 members. The community actively organizes various mass activities, with well-developed programs for elderly education and strong public participation.

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