Majiumiao Bridge

Majiumiao Bridge

Majiumiao Bridge is a cultural relic protection unit of Zhejiang Province.

Majiumiao Bridge is located in Majiumiao Village, Caoqiao Subdistrict, Pinghu City, spanning Zhaojing Port from north to south. It was first recorded during the Ming Dynasty and rebuilt in the 18th year of the Republic of China (1929). This three-arch stone bridge is 39 meters long and 3.1 meters wide, with a central arch rise of 5.2 meters and a span of 10.1 meters, while the side arches have a rise of 2.8 meters and a span of 6 meters. The bridge employs the thin-pier continuous arch technique, with the arch rings built using the method of longitudinal jointing in sections. There are 37 stone steps on both the north and south sides. It features slab railings and plain square balusters. The railing slabs at the highest point of the bridge are designed as backrests, which not only reinforce the structure but also provide a convenient place for pedestrians to rest. The railing slabs and balusters are riveted to the plinth with iron fittings, and the joints are poured with glutinous rice paste.

The central keystone of the stone bridge is carved with a whirlpool pattern in relief. There are four pairs of inscribed couplets on the bridge pillars: on the west side, “Sailing eastward, the masts connect to the mouths of the Three Marshes; driving southward, the view points to the peaks of Jiufeng,” and in the middle, “The southern hunting ferry at Jinggong Temple is still called Majiumiao today; the western section along Dayitang Pond has always belonged to Zhaojing”; on the east side, “A half-moon over Zhaojing spans five village gates; a long rainbow encircles Majiumiao connecting three counties,” and in the middle, “Across the river, the star pivot faces south toward the sea sands and north to the Han River; the horizontal pond reflects moonlight linking the eastern marshes and tracing west to the Xie River.” The upper part of the central arch ring stone on the east side is inscribed with the note: “Majiumiao Temple Stone Bridge, rebuilt in the spring of the 18th year of the Republic of China by local villagers,” while the west side bears the inscription: “Majiumiao Temple Bridge.” The lower part of the central arch slab stone is engraved with the surnames of donors who contributed money for the bridge’s repair and the amounts donated.

In January 2011, it was announced as part of the sixth batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Zhejiang Province.

Majiumiao Village: Majiumiao Village is located in the southern part of Caoqiao Subdistrict, bordered by Baishou Village and Tongjie Village of Danghu Subdistrict to the east, Yema Village to the west, and adjacent to Xitangqiao Town of Haiyan County to the southwest.

　 Majiumiao Village consists of 23 villager groups, with a total of 1,104 households and a population of 4,105.

The current land use of Majiumiao Village is mainly for agricultural cultivation. Natural villages are distributed along the river, with 13 villager groups spread out relatively scattered. The current residential construction land area is approximately 54.93 hectares, with an average per household construction land area of about 521.1... More details about Majiumiao Village++

Further reading:

· Sixth Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Zhejiang Province