Gaoqiao

Gaoqiao

Gaoqiao is a cultural heritage site under the protection of Haishu District.

Gaoqiao is located in the middle section of Guantang River at the western end of Gaoqiao Town, Haishu District. It was designated as a district-level cultural heritage site in June 1982.

Gaoqiao is located in the middle section of Guantang, spanning the confluence of Daxiba Dam and Houtang River. To its north lies the Yao River, to its west are the mountain ridges extending from Siming Mountain, including Shitang Mountain and Shenxi Mountain, and to its south, it continues through Jishigang and Gulin into Fenghua. Heading east via Houtang River leads directly to Ningbo city. The water and land transportation here are very convenient. According to the "Yinxian Annals", it was rebuilt in the winter of the fourth year of Baoyou during the Southern Song Dynasty (1256) by Wu Qian, the Grand Controller and Prefectural Judge. Yuan Shang of the Song Dynasty wrote in "Record of the Reconstruction of Gaoqiao": “The bridge spans the north bank of Xitang River, connecting to Jinjia Bridge in the south and Daxiba Dam Village in the north. Since ancient times, it has been the essential route for those traveling from Hangzhou and Shaoxing to Ningbo.” In later dynasties, it underwent continuous maintenance, and the current structure was renovated in the eighth year of the Guangxu reign during the Qing Dynasty.

Gaoqiao is a single-arch stone bridge, named for its grand height, and is the most magnificent ancient bridge on the Yinxi Plain. It has a total length of 28.5 meters, a width of 4.68 meters, an arch span of 10.3 meters, and an arch height of 6.8 meters. There is also a 1-meter-wide towpath. The bridge is characterized by its high arch and large span, giving rise to the saying, “Ships can pass through while sails remain unfurled.” On either side above the arch are stone plaques: the northern one inscribed with “Prosperity on the Rise,” and the southern one with “Scholarly Stars Shine Bright.” Each side also features a couplet. The southern couplet reads: “Mighty waves and strong winds evoke the triumphs of great men; Square cauldrons and round bridges, all seekers pass through here.” The northern couplet has faded over time and is no longer legible. At both ends of the bridge are carved dragon head ornaments, and the bridge approaches are equipped with steps—33 on the east and 32 on the west. There are 24 balustrade panels on both sides, interspersed with double-layer lotus-shaped pillars. Cloud-patterned drum stones are placed on both sides of the bridge approaches. The overall structure of the bridge is narrow in the center and wider at both ends, taking on a diamond-like shape, which gives it a sense of stability and grandeur.

Gaoqiao not only plays an important role in Ningbo’s transportation, but there are also many historical stories associated with it. For example, Gaoqiao was once the battlefield where the Southern Song Dynasty achieved its first major victory against the Jin army. In the fourth year of the Jianyan era of the Southern Song Dynasty (1130 AD), Emperor Gaozong of Song fled to Mingzhou to escape the Jin forces, who pursued him. Zhang Jun, the Pacification Commissioner of Eastern Zhejiang, decisively defeated the Jin army at Gaoqiao. To commemorate this great victory, Gaoqiao once hosted a celebratory temple fair called the “Gaoqiao Fair.” Other historical tales related to Gaoqiao include the “Ningbo Slipper” and “Yellow Mud Wall and the Ningbo Bridal Sedan,” among others.

Gaoqiao Town: Gaoqiao is located in the western part of Ningbo, an important port city in China's coastal economic belt and Yangtze River economic belt, enjoying superior geographical and natural conditions. To the east is the urban area of Ningbo, to the south lies Yueshe International Airport, to the west borders the ancient Hemudu cultural site, and to the north is the golden waterway of the Yao River. The Hangzhou-Ningbo Expressway and the provincial road Yongliang Line run east-west across the entire territory. The town has a registered population of 48,700 and governs 20 administrative villages, one fishing cooperative, and three residential committees, covering a total area of 53 square kilometers. … Gaoqiao Town detailed information++