Jinji Weir and Jinji Bridge

Jinji Weir and Jinji Bridge

Jinji Weir and Jinji Bridge are protected cultural heritage sites under Yinzhou District.

Jinji Bridge and Jinji Weir are located in Zouxi Village, Tangxi Town, Yinzhou District. They were designated as district-level cultural heritage sites on November 18, 1994.

According to the Republican-era "Yinxian General Annals", Jinji Bridge and Jinji Weir were built in the fourth year of the Yongzheng reign during the Qing Dynasty (1726). At that time, Xianxiang suffered from both tidal flooding and drought, and the local people petitioned repeatedly. The then-county magistrate of Yinxian, Yang Yi, cared about the people’s hardships, sympathized with their plight, mobilized the public, and oversaw the construction of Jinji Weir.

Jinji Weir is situated at the upper reaches of the Dasong River. The weir spans horizontally from north to south at the confluence of Meixi Creek, which flows down from the towering mountains, and the Dasong River. Upstream of the dam is the creek, and downstream is the river. The dam serves to block silt from entering the river while also channeling water into the Nansong River. Approximately 19.20 meters south of the weir lies Jinji Bridge, and 8 meters east of it is the Shilongqi, an auxiliary structure of Jinji Weir. This facility regulates the water level of Xianxiang River and plays a role in flood prevention and discharge, supplying irrigation and domestic water for the paddy fields in the regions of Xianxiang and Qiushan.

The Jinji Weir is constructed from stone slabs and blocks, featuring a gentle slope. Originally 21.50 meters long, it now measures 12.35 meters in length (as its ends have been buried by paddy fields), 16.5 meters in width, and 1.5 meters in height. For over 200 years, it has continuously functioned to divert water, discharge floods, and prevent silt from entering the river between Meixi and Xianxiang River.

Jinji Bridge is 28.1 meters long and 2.3 meters wide, consisting of a six-arch flat bridge built with stone piers and blocks. Beneath the bridge, waters from Meixi and Tingxi Creeks, originating from the lofty mountains such as Chijin and Meiling, are channeled through three sluice gates and water channels cut into the mountain roots on the southern bank, flowing into Xiayao Zhouhutang, Dasong, Zhujia, and Xiapada areas for farmland irrigation. To the east, the bridge connects to Dabipu Village and Guanshan Village, and to the west, it links Zouxi Village and Tangtou Street, serving as a key transportation route between Xianxiang and Tangxi in earlier times. The bridge piers are adorned at both ends with carved dragon and tiger head decorations in a simple, bold style, adding artistic charm to the stonework and reflecting the ancient builders’ intent to ward off evil spirits.

Today, Jinji Bridge, Jinji Weir, and the many ancient hydraulic engineering works in the Dasong area have become tangible examples for commemorating the wisdom of our predecessors, honoring historical relics, carrying forward traditions, striving for progress, and promoting education in patriotism, love for one’s hometown, and love for the people.