Huiming Bridge

Huiming Bridge

Huiming Bridge is a cultural heritage site protected by Haishu District.

Huiming Bridge is located at the western end of Dongqiao Village, Dongqiao Town, spanning east-west over the confluence of the southern bank of Nantang River and the branch of Zhongxia Port.

The bridge was originally built during the Tang Dynasty, collapsed during the Zhiping era (1064–1067) of the Song Dynasty, was rebuilt in the fifth year of the Zhengtong era (1440) of the Ming Dynasty, and underwent further repairs in the seventh year of the Tongzhi era (1868) of the Qing Dynasty. It is a double-arch stone bridge constructed of stone. The total length is 20.5 meters, and the width is 2.9 meters. Each side of the bridge deck is equipped with fourteen railings and sixteen balusters. At both ends of the bridge, there are four drum stones. The eastern end has ten steps, while the western end has eight. The central upper part of the railing on the southern side bears the bold regular script characters “Huiming Bridge,” with smaller inscribed characters on the side reading “Reconstructed by local people from Tongzhi Year of Wushen to Autumn.” Between the two bridge holes, carved stone dragon heads protrude. On the exterior wall of the eastern side of Huayuan Lane at the western end of the bridge, there are four upright stone steles, one of which is from the fifth year of the Zhengtong era of the Ming Dynasty, with the inscription “Record of the Reconstruction of Huiming Bridge” on the stele header.

As the first bridge on the water and land route from the ancient county of Mao to Mingzhou Prefecture, Huiming Bridge still retains two original circular bridge holes that once allowed the passage of official boats, with diameters as wide as 8.3 meters. Despite renovations during the Song and Ming Dynasties, this ancient bridge has retained its originally grand scale. The Huiming Port where the bridge is located is also known as Zhongxia Port or Lijiang Long, serving as the vital passage to Xiaohu Lake and Nantang River during the Tang Dynasty. The opposite riverbank of Huiming Bridge was originally the Lanpu Weir, built to block saltwater and drain floodwaters. Nearby, the Tianwang Temple, constructed in the thirteenth year of the Xiantong era of the Tang Dynasty, once stood.

The bridge features exquisite craftsmanship and an elegant, classic design. It is one of the few well-preserved ancient bridges remaining in Yinzhou District, holding significant historical, artistic, and scientific value.

Dongqiao Village: Named after the bridge, Dongqiao Village is located southwest of Ningbo City, 23 kilometers away, 3 kilometers west of Yanjiang Town, and 2.5 kilometers east of Dongqiao Town Government. The village consists of five natural villages: Hebei, Henan, Wujiayuan, Qianwangfan, and Lanpu Weir. It covers an area of 1.6 square kilometers, with a total of 579 households, a population of 1,378, and cultivated land area of over 1,650 mu. Dongqiao Village has a long history; archaeological findings indicate human activity dating back to the Neolithic Age. From the Tang Dynasty through the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the village was home to ten major scenic and historic sites, namely two bridges (Dongqiao, … Dongqiao Village detailed information++)