Xitou Stone Arch Bridge

Xitou Stone Arch Bridge

The Xitou Stone Arch Bridges are protected as cultural heritage sites by Zhejiang Province.

The Song Dynasty stone arch bridges of Xitou consist of three bridges: Huide Bridge, Ancestral Hall Bridge, and Temple-Front Bridge. They are located along the same stream in Xitou Village, Changjie Town, Ninghai County, Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province. These three ancient bridges are situated within the same village, featuring sturdy structures and exquisite designs, and hold significant historical value. In 2005, they were designated as part of the fifth batch of provincial-level cultural heritage protection units.

1. Huide Bridge

Also known as "Shanqian Bridge," Huide Bridge was built during the Southern Song Dynasty. According to local accounts, the benefactor who funded the construction of Huide Bridge was likely a native of Xitou who served as an official elsewhere. Upon achieving prominence, he chose to give back to his hometown by funding this bridge. Out of gratitude, the locals named it “Huide,” meaning “Beneficence and Virtue.” The bridge is 11.5 meters long, 4.5 meters wide, has a rise of 3.6 meters, and spans 7.5 meters. The central northern arch stone is inscribed with the characters “Huide Bridge.” The arch is constructed from seven curved stone slabs arranged in primary and secondary layers. The bridge railings on both sides originally featured eight lotus-shaped columns each, though some are now missing. The lion head carvings on the bridge display simple yet bold craftsmanship, with square-edged foreheads and noses, protruding eyeballs, and swept-back manes.

2. Ancestral Hall Bridge

Located in front of the Chen Family Ancestral Hall in Xitou Village, the Ancestral Hall Bridge is believed to have been built during the Qing Dynasty based on its architectural style. It is a single-arch stone bridge constructed using a frame-style horizontal masonry technique, oriented east-west. The bridge is 10 meters long, 3 meters wide, with a clear span of 6 meters and a rise of 4.01 meters. The arch stones are stacked in offset layers on a foundation, hewn into shape with four blocks per row, forming a tightly structured assembly. The eastern side uses 20 rows, and the western side 19 rows, all leading up to the arch crown. Smaller curved stone slabs connect the structure vertically, with four blocks on the southern side, five on the northern side, and five at the center of the arch, joined using mortise-and-tenon joints. Each side of the bridge uses seven arch face stones; between the second and third sections, transverse upper arch sections are embedded. The western side clearly employs mortise-and-tenon techniques, locally referred to as “binding tenons,” while the eastern side’s method remains unclear.

3. Temple-Front Bridge

Situated in front of Jifu Temple to the north of Xitou Village, the Temple-Front Bridge is inferred to have been built during the Qing Dynasty (1644–1911) based on its architectural characteristics. Oriented north-south with a slight eastward slant, it is a single-arch stone bridge built with a frame-style horizontal masonry technique. The bridge is 10 meters long, 3 meters wide, with a clear span of 6 meters and a rise of 4.01 meters. Below the arch stones, there are two layers of foundational stones arranged in three-block rows, laid directly on bedrock. Above these, four-block rows of layered stones are arranged horizontally in offset fashion—17 layers on the eastern side and 18 on the western side up to the arch crown. The arch crown consists of nine small curved stone slabs arranged vertically to link the transverse arch stones on both sides, possibly secured with mortise-and-tenon joints. The arch face stones are divided into five sections, with the top of the first section on each side joined to the eighth transverse layer via mortise-and-tenon. Four arch face stones are placed between the second and third sections. One piece in the northwest corner is missing, exposing the tenon end of the third-section arch stone. There are four non-base stones shaped like a traditional Chinese “record” (录) top, each carved with lotus, water lily, and plum blossom patterns. The keystone stones are roughly hewn with two distinct edges—north and south—and feature simple cloud motifs and ruyi patterns. The lintel above the arch is built from roughly dressed and then aligned stones.

Changjie Town: Located in the eastern part of Ninghai County, Changjie Town borders Xiangshan Harbor to the east, Sanmen Bay to the south, Huchen Harbor to the west, and Huchen Township to the north. It is a major agricultural hub, industrial center, and key town in Ninghai County. The town covers an area of 134.6 square kilometers, comprises 7 administrative offices and 82 administrative villages, and has a total population of over 68,000. In 2003, the total output value of industry and agriculture reached 1.835 billion yuan, fiscal revenue totaled 32.5 million yuan, and the per capita income of farmers was 3,900 yuan.

Changjie Town enjoys a superior geographical location, with the coastal highway running through its territory. It is 29 kilometers from Ninghai County’s urban center… More details about Changjie Town++

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Units