Changshan Bridge

Changshan Bridge

Changshan Bridge is a cultural relics protection unit of Beilun District.

Changshan Bridge is located on the Xiaojie River in Changshan Village, Xiaogang Subdistrict, Beilun District, Ningbo City. In 1990, it was designated as a district-level cultural relics protection unit by the local government.

Originally named Yongji Bridge, Changshan Bridge was first built during the Hongwu era (1368–1398) of the Ming Dynasty. Initially, boats and wooden planks were used to help people cross where there was no bridge. The current three-arch stone bridge was completed in the ninth year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1670). The bridge is 45 meters long and 3.8 meters wide, with each arch spanning 7.2 meters. It features semi-circular arches constructed using longitudinal string courses of stone blocks laid in sections. The bridge is equipped with railings made of stone slabs and square balusters. At the southern end of the bridge stands the Yongji An Pavilion, whose walls contain two stone steles—one from the Ming Dynasty’s Wanli era and one from the Qing Dynasty’s Jiaqing era—commemorating bridge repairs, though the inscriptions have become faded over time. According to the "Record of the Reconstruction of Changshan Yongji Bridge," it states: “Changshan is a vital passageway, connecting the four surrounding townships internally and three military posts externally. Patrol officers, postal stations, officials, soldiers, merchants, and travelers converge here, bustling day and night.” This highlights the bridge's significant historical role in transportation.

With a long history, unique construction techniques, and largely preserved structure, Changshan Bridge is a representative example of ancient bridge architecture in the region.