Yao River Canal Ferry Group

Yao River Canal Ferry Group

The Yao River Canal Ferry Group is a Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Unit.

The Yao River Canal Ferry Group consists of Banpu Ferry, Qinglin Ferry, Liqi Ferry, and Dushen Hall. In January 2017, it was designated as part of the seventh batch of Provincial-level Cultural Heritage Protection Units by the People’s Government of Zhejiang Province.

1. Banpu Ferry

Banpu Ferry is situated at the southern end of Dutou Street Natural Village, Banpu Village, Cicheng Town, Jiangbei District. In ancient times, it was a key water transport route connecting Cixi and Yinxian along the Yao River, serving as a major ferry terminal linking the Yao River Canal from Yuyao to Ningbo. The ferry is located on the north bank of the Yao River. Today, only about 37.2 meters of the embankment remains. On the western side, there is still a downward sloping ramp constructed from massive stone slabs, approximately 4 meters wide. An intact stone lamp post also remains on the shore. The ferry site covers an area of about 560 square meters.

2. Qinglin Ferry

Qinglin Ferry is located at the southwestern end of Yanjia Village, Zhuangqiao Subdistrict, Jiangbei District. It faces the Yao River to the south, the Xiaoshan–Ningbo Railway Bridge to the east, the Jiangbei Bridge to the west, and Yongning Chan Temple to the north. The existing ancient ferry is 43 meters wide and covers an area of about 419 square meters. On the eastern side of the ferry, there is a wharf that faces southwest, featuring three steps of an auspicious design forming a square platform that is 3.5 meters long and 2.6 meters wide. Below the platform, there are more steps, but only two are visible during normal water levels, with the rest submerged. The ferry embankment runs east–west, stretching 10 meters from the eastern wharf to the western end, and is equipped with four bollards for tying ropes, spaced fairly symmetrically.

3. Liqi Ferry

Liqi Ferry is located at the southern end of Dutou Natural Village, Lijia Village, Zhuangqiao Subdistrict, Jiangbei District. It faces the Yao River to the south and currently consists of a ferry pavilion and a wharf. The ferry was established during the Qing Dynasty and remained in use until 1985. The ferry pavilion has three bays, a flush gable roof, and a post-and-lintel structure, with short round columns on the beams supporting the moonlit coffered eaves. It has a depth of two bays and four rafters, with eight small octagonal stone square columns in total across the three bays. The original wharf had a stepped design, was 3.1 meters wide, and extended about 11 meters from the shoreline to the wharf edge. During normal water levels, it is mostly submerged, with only six meters of steps visible.

4. Dushen Hall

Dushen Hall is located in the northwest of Wantou Block, Yongjiang Subdistrict, Jiangbei District, right next to the Yao River and directly opposite Liqi Ferry. Built in the autumn of 1858, it has a history of over 150 years. Today, only the seven-bay front hall remains, along with an ancient stage that is still well-preserved. On the two stone pillars in front of the stage, there is a couplet written by Yao Fuchen, a renowned local scholar from Cixi during the Qing Dynasty: “Vivid and colorful, yet do not dismiss it as mere playacting; filled with laughter and tears, it all stirs genuine emotion.” On the right pillar, the date of the stage’s construction is clearly inscribed: “Autumn, Year of Wuwu, Xianfeng Era.”

Source: Jiangbei District Cultural Relics Management Office

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Units