The Ancient Minghe Bridge

The Ancient Minghe Bridge

The name "Minghe" dates back to the Tang Dynasty. It was the courtesy name of Yu Jiugao, the great-grandson of Yu Shinan, a renowned official of the Tang Dynasty. After Yu Jiugao passed the imperial examination in Chang’an but unfortunately died young, the local people were deeply saddened. To honor the achievements of the Yu family, they renamed their hometown "Minghe," a name that has been used ever since.

"A red sampan boat with a lone oar sways, spring breeze carries girls with hair still in braids, counting each bridge from east to west, remember the seventh bridge at Dou Pond." This bamboo branch poem from the Qing Dynasty, written by Ye Shengwen, depicts a vivid scene of the customs and life along the river in the Jiangnan water towns. The long street of Minghe, stretching for over a mile, had a market as early as the Song Dynasty. After the establishment of the salt fields, a canal street was dug during the Ming Dynasty to facilitate salt transportation.

The town boasts numerous ancient bridges, with those spanning the canal street forming solidified rainbows that add timeless beauty to this Jiangnan town. The old streets, small bridges, and flowing water—terms familiar to many—find their perfect embodiment here. There are seven ancient bridges on the old street: Dou Pond Bridge, Canal Bridge, Sandy Beach Bridge, Sanhuai Bridge, East Grand Bridge, Shide Bridge, and Dangdian Bridge. Among these, three are arched bridges and four are beam bridges. The Dou Pond, Canal, and Sandy Beach bridges, built during the Qing Dynasty and the Republican era, are single-arch structures with finely carved railings and pillars, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship and high aesthetic value. Among them, the Sandy Beach Bridge, rebuilt in 1931, stands out for its elegant design and refined workmanship. Spanning the western end of the Minghe market, it is constructed from premium pink Meiyuan stone, featuring stone balusters, railings, and drum-shaped ornaments, with carvings of stone lions and elephants. The center of the bridge is paved with bluish-white lotus-patterned stone slabs. The entire bridge is made of fine, smooth, and polished stone, exuding an antique elegance and demonstrating masterful craftsmanship.