Ancient Bedding Bridge

Ancient Bedding Bridge

Ancient Bedding Bridge is a cultural relic protection unit of Cixi City.

Ancient Bedding Bridge, also known as Hulong Bridge, is located at the southern part of Rongjia Village in Zhangqi Town, where the Kuai Chuan River meets the Guyao Port. It spans the Kuai Chuan River from north to south. According to the Guangxu-era "Cixi County Annals”: “Ancient Bedding Bridge is forty li north of the county. Huang Wenjie once lay on it reading books, hence the name. In the sixth year of the Daoguang reign during the Qing Dynasty, local resident Rong Kaihua funded its reconstruction, and it was renovated again in the third year of the Guangxu reign.” The Rong Jinming's “Record of the Reconstruction of Bedding Bridge” reveals that the bridge was originally an earthen one, later replaced with stone; during the Song Dynasty, the bridge’s name was painted and over time mistakenly became known as Hulong Bridge. This is a single-arch stone bridge, measuring 10.7 meters in total length and 4.22 meters in width. The bridge deck is paved with four flagstones, with railing panels and balusters on both the east and west sides. The east railing panel is inscribed with “Ancient Bedding Bridge,” while the west panel reads “Hulong Bridge.” There are octagonal stairways on the north and south sides. On the top lintels of the bridge’s gate pillars on both sides, a pair of dragon heads are carved, rendered with vivid detail. Inscribed couplets are carved on the stone pillars of the bridge gates, both written in running regular script with bold strokes, exhibiting a refined calligraphic style.

Ancient Bedding Bridge is a commemorative structure within Cixi known for its early construction date, well-preserved condition, and profound historical and cultural significance. Qing Dynasty literati from Cixi such as Chen Bangrui and Rong Jinming wrote essays and biographies about the bridge. Tracing the origins of Ancient Bedding Bridge provides important insights for research on Huang Zhen and the “Dongfa School” as well as studies on notable local figures of Cixi. In 1982, the People’s Government of Cixi County listed Ancient Bedding Bridge as one of the first batch of cultural relic protection units.

Huang Zhen (1213–1281), styled Dongfa and referred to as Master Yuyue, was a native of Rongjia Village, Zhangqi Town, Cixi. He passed the imperial examination in the fourth year of the Baoyou reign during the Song Dynasty and was appointed as magistrate of Wuxian County. He also oversaw administrative duties in Wuxian, Huating, and Changzhou counties, gaining a distinguished reputation. In the third year of the Xianchun reign, Huang Zhen was promoted to the position of collator in the Historiography Institute, participating in the compilation of the official histories of Emperors Ningzong and Lizong. He later served as deputy military commissioner of Guangde, deputy military commissioner of Shaoxing Prefecture, prefect of Fuzhou, director of the Jiangxi Changping Granary Bureau, and supervisory criminal judge of Jiangxi. Huang Zhen was an incorruptible official who stood up to the powerful. Wherever he served, he eliminated malpractice, prohibited vice, provided relief to the poor, encouraged virtue, promoted education, and improved water conservancy… More details about Huang Zhen ++