Henghe Qixing Bridge

Henghe Qixing Bridge

Located in the ancient town of Henghe, about 4 kilometers south of the urban area, Qixing Bridge is the most famous ancient stone arch bridge in Cixi.

The Qixing Bridge is 25 meters long and 3 meters wide, featuring an exquisite structure as a three-arch stone bridge. With three spans that use minimal materials to reduce pressure on the foundation and aid flood discharge in the rainy season, the central span is 6.5 meters wide, which also accommodates boat passage. The bridge deck is ingeniously designed—with 28 stone steps on both the north and south sides for pedestrians, and long slabs laid diagonally to allow easy vehicle crossing. The bridge stands 7 meters high, with pillars and railings providing safety and stability. The bridge piers are laid with horizontal stone slabs, with vertical pier columns embedded in the middle to bear the load, and dragon-head water outlets installed at the top to drain rainwater—both aesthetic and functional. “A bright mirror hangs high, casting radiance over both banks; a long rainbow slants down, exhaling spirit through three rings.” “Three platforms calm the waves, left stream and right spring; seven stars stretch across, anchoring south mirror and north town.” The poetic couplets on the east and west pillars of the bridge capture its essence.

The Qixing Bridge exudes ancient charm. Local records say it was renovated during the Qing Dynasty’s Daoguang era by a local man named Sun Shijian, but in fact, it was already documented in the Ming Dynasty’s Jiajing-era records, meaning its history spans at least 500 years. In the past, express and cargo boats from northern Cixi and northern Yao carried mountain produce, seafood, grains, wheat, cotton, salt, fruits, and vegetables through here to reach the Yao River and then Ningbo.

The Qixing Bridge carries forward China’s ancient stone arch bridge construction techniques, gently arching over the Henghe River like a rainbow about to take flight. “The grass and stream flow in varied shades of green; the mustard flowers and willows show light yellow and deep.” In olden times, there was a folk custom of dragon boat races on the Henghe River. “In March (or during the Dragon Boat Festival), dragon boats race swiftly, while anglers sit on warm stones,” leaning on the railings and pillars, as fellow villagers cheer together from the bridge, enchanted by the boundless spring scenery on both shores.

Henghe Town: Henghe Town is located in the southern suburbs of Cixi City, with plains to the north and hills to the south. It enjoys excellent transportation links and geographical advantages. The Cixi connecting line of the Hangzhou-Ningbo Expressway runs through the town. It lies 185 kilometers from Hangzhou, the provincial capital, and over 80 kilometers from Ningbo Lishe Airport, facing Shanghai across the Hangzhou Bay to the north. The town covers a total area of 88.34 square kilometers and has a population of 63,000.

Since the reform and opening-up, Henghe Town’s economy has developed rapidly. In 2004, the town achieved a gross domestic product of 2.34 billion yuan, up 11% year-on-year; fiscal revenue reached 221 million yuan, and the finance... Henghe Town detailed information++