Puyuan Ancient Bridges

Puyuan Ancient Bridges

The Puyuan Ancient Bridges are a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Zhejiang Province.

The Puyuan Ancient Bridges are located in the old town area of Puyuan Town. Puyuan was established as a town during the Southern Song Dynasty. The scale and layout of the old town took shape when the Pu family settled here during the Song and Yuan Dynasties, and were further expanded during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, making it a typical ancient water town in the Jiangnan region. The Puyuan Ancient Bridges consist of nine historic bridges: Zhong’an Bridge, Nü’er Bridge, Qifeng Bridge, Dadé Bridge, Dayou Bridge, Daji Bridge, Dingquan Bridge, Xiutong Bridge, and Wangban Bridge.

Zhong’an Bridge: Located at the eastern end of Huayuan Street in Puyuan Town, the original construction date is unknown. It was rebuilt in the 4th year of the Daoguang reign during the Qing Dynasty (1824), spanning the East Market River from east to west as a single-arch stone bridge. The bridge is 16.9 meters long and 2.2 meters wide, with a span of 6.9 meters. The arch is constructed with longitudinally jointed, sectioned, and parallel-laid stones. It features stone balusters and railings, with 16 stone steps on each end. Originally, a temple dedicated to Shi Quan, a patriotic general from the Southern Song Dynasty, stood at the eastern end of the bridge. Although the temple has been destroyed, its pavilion still remains.

Nü’er Bridge: Situated over the South Market River in Puyuan Town, it was renovated in the 2nd year of the Jiaqing reign during the Qing Dynasty (1797). Also known as “Yuer Bridge,” it was historically a boundary between the Wu and Yue states. This single-arch stone bridge spans the South Market River from east to west. It was rebuilt by Pu Zhen during the Deyou era of the Song Dynasty (1275–1276) and renovated again in 1797. Legend has it that during the Spring and Autumn Period, when King Fuchai of Wu was commanding troops against Yue, a local child was born who could speak, and since the Wu army had just won a battle, the place was named Yuer Township, with a Yuer Pavilion nearby. Another tale says that when Goujian of Yue was in Wu, his wife gave birth to a daughter in the pavilion, hence the name Yuer Pavilion. The pavilion has since been lost, but the bridge remains. The bridge is 17.4 meters long, 2.8 meters wide, with a clear span of 7 meters and an arch rise of 4 meters. There are 15 stone steps on the eastern side and 17 on the western side, flanked by stone railings. The bridge’s top balusters are adorned with shallow carvings of ruyi heads, and the arch is built with longitudinally jointed, sectioned, and parallel-laid stones. A poem from Shen Tao’s *Hundred Poems of Youhu* reads: “Beneath Yuer Bridge, daughters marry; north and south, the Su families weave silk; swallows leave the halls of Wang and Xie; mulberry shadows stretch across the setting sun.” On the western end of the bridge stands a military gate built during the Japanese invasion of China, which functioned like a city gate—opened by day and closed at night—to restrict civilian movement, serving as one of the many pieces of evidence of Japanese wartime atrocities. Nü’er Bridge bears witness to the historical vicissitudes of the ancient town.

Qifeng Bridge: Located over the West Market River in Puyuan Town, it was initially built by Pu Feng of the Song Dynasty and rebuilt in the 22nd year of the Daoguang reign during the Qing Dynasty. Spanning the West Market River from east to west, it connects Beiheng Street on the east and Longwan Street on the west. This three-arch stone beam bridge is 19.8 meters long, 2.18 meters wide, with a span of 12.3 meters, and 13 stone steps on each end. The vertical wall-like bridge piers feature balusters and railings, with inscribed couplets on both sides. The southern side reads: “Colorful Han splendor, people speak among bamboo groves; the sound of the stream echoes along a path shaded by phoenix trees.” The northern side reads: “The bridge spans the West River, red branches mark the ancient Qifeng; the street connects to North Li, green oil stains drift at dawn.” The entire bridge is well preserved.

Dadé Bridge: Located in central Puyuan Town, commonly known as Miaobridge, it spans the middle section of Miaobridge River. Initially built by Pu Jian of the Yuan Dynasty and reconstructed in the 9th year of the Republic of China (1920), it is a single-arch stone bridge oriented from north to south. The bridge is 16.4 meters long, 2.65 meters wide, with a span of 7.5 meters. It features balusters and railings, and the lower part of the arch wall is decorated with multiple lotus and lotus leaf motifs, though the inscriptions are no longer legible. There are no steps at either end. It connects Miaobridge Street to the south and Siwang Street to the north.

Dayou Bridge: Spanning the western section of Miaobridge River, it was initially built by Pu Jian of the Yuan Dynasty and reconstructed in the 3rd year of the Xuantong reign during the Qing Dynasty (1911). This three-arch stone beam bridge is oriented from north to south, measuring 16.9 meters long, 2.85 meters wide, with a total span of 11.7 meters and a main span of 4.90 meters. The vertical wall-like bridge piers feature rectangular frames made of lotus leaves and lotus petals, with inscriptions inside that are no longer readable. There are 18 stone steps on each end, connecting Nandayou Street to the south and Beidayou Street to the north.

Daji Bridge: Commonly known as Xin Bridge, it spans the eastern end of Miaobridge River. Initially built by Pu Jian of the Yuan Dynasty and reconstructed in the 44th year of the Qianlong reign during the Qing Dynasty (1779) by Chen Zong, it is a single-arch stone beam bridge oriented from north to south. Originally located directly opposite Huangjiawan in front of Xiangyun Temple (now the area known as Hexia Street, which was later fully developed and the name lost by 1990), it was later relocated to the eastern harbor of Xiangyun Temple.

Dingquan Bridge: Legend says there is a spring beneath the bridge that never dries up, even in severe drought. Rebuilt in the 60th year of the Qianlong reign during the Qing Dynasty (1795), it spans the North Market River from east to west. The bridge is 17.2 meters long, 2.75 meters wide, with a span of 6.2 meters and an arch height of 3.4 meters. It features balusters and railings, with 18 stone steps on each end, and is a single-arch stone bridge. To the east is the North Corridor Fence, and to the west it connects to Feijia Field.

The exact construction dates of Xiutong Bridge and Wangban Bridge can no longer be verified. However, during the third national cultural relics survey in 2008, their construction techniques and materials were evaluated, confirming them as Qing Dynasty bridges.

The Puyuan Ancient Bridges are distributed along the town’s market river, preserved intact to this day. They have witnessed the development and changes of Puyuan, closely tied to the town’s founding history, and continue to serve important transportation functions. These living cultural and historical resources also reflect the local humanities, history, and folklore through their names, showcasing the unique qualities of a water town where natural and human environments blend. Owing to their diverse designs and excellent preservation, these stone bridges hold significant cultural and technological value, and also serve as references for the study of bridge architecture in the Jiangnan water towns.

In January 2011, they were designated as part of the sixth batch of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Units.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Units