Dazhu Bridge

Dazhu Bridge

Dazhu Bridge is a cultural relic protection unit of Hangzhou City.

Dazhu Bridge is located in front of Baizi Mountain in Dazhu Village, Zhuantang Town, near the current village committee office, spanning the Dazhu River estuary from north to south. Volume 21 of the Xianchun Lin’an Annals states: “The Zhu Bridge is in Xufan Village.” In 1596, during the 24th year of the Ming Dynasty’s Wanli reign, it was relocated to its current site. The existing bridge was rebuilt in 1816, during the 21st year of the Qing Dynasty’s Jiaqing reign. It is a single-arch stone bridge. The bridge has a total length of 28 meters and a width of 6 meters. The arch is constructed using the method of vertically aligned, segmented, and parallel courses, with an intricately carved “two dragons playing with a pearl” design on the arch’s belly. The middle of the bridge deck is a flat platform, flanked by low parapet walls adorned with decorative patterns but without any balusters. There are multiple steps on either side. Historically, the bridge had many names, each with its own origin. As it was originally located near a settlement of the Zhu family, it was called Zhu Bridge or Da Zhu Bridge (Great Zhu Bridge). Legend has it that in the early Yuan Dynasty, Zhu Qing rose to the rank of a transportation official due to his achievements in maritime transport. In his earlier days, he made a living carrying firewood, passing through this area, hence the name Nobleman’s Firewood-Carrying Path. To distinguish it from another bridge outside Fengshan Gate known as Zhu Bridge (Nanshing Bridge), it was also called Shang Zhu Bridge (Upper Zhu Bridge). In 1588, during the 16th year of the Ming Dynasty’s Wanli reign, the bridge was destroyed by tidal waves. Magistrate Yu Liangshu organized its reconstruction. A tattered Taoist monk came to the construction site begging for food; after eating, he proclaimed that the bridge would stand for ten thousand years, then suddenly vanished. Consequently, the bridge was renamed Wan Nian Bridge (Ten Thousand Years Bridge) after its rebuilding. Due to its robust structure, it was considered the most impressive among the bridges along the river, thus it was also called Zhu Liang Bridge. Dazhu Bridge was once an important bridge at the mouth of the Qiantang River. Ships coming to Hangzhou in the past often entered from the river, berthed nearby, and passengers disembarked here to enter the city. The bridge is now largely well-preserved. On July 9, 2000, it was announced as part of the third batch of municipal-level cultural relic protection units. In 2003, the surrounding environment underwent improvement, with landscaping added to better preserve the ancient bridge’s appearance.

Protected Area: An area extending approximately 5 meters beyond the bridge structure, covering a total of 608 square meters.

Construction Control Zone: Partially overlapping with the Ming and Qing Dynasty Qiantang River seawall control zone (including the Sijiqing Tablet Pavilion) up to Zhuantang Town. It extends eastward about 40 meters beyond the protected area, southwestward about 30 meters beyond the protected area, with a total area of 9,926 square meters.

Zhuantang Subdistrict: Zhuantang Subdistrict is located within Xihu District, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province. According to the “Reply on the Adjustment of Some Administrative Divisions of Xihu District, Hangzhou City” (Zhezheng Han [2007] No. 147, Hangzheng Han [2007] No. 188) issued by the provincial and municipal people’s governments, and in accordance with the relevant regulations on administrative division adjustments, the townships of Zhuantang and Longwu were abolished and merged to establish Zhuantang Subdistrict Office. Additionally, three communities under the Lingyin Subdistrict Office—Shanhusha, Wuyun, and Menghu—were placed under the jurisdiction of our subdistrict office. The adjusted Zhuantang Subdistrict stretches from the Qiantang River in the east to Fuyang in the west, borders Shuangpu Town in the south, and adjoins... More details about Zhuantang Subdistrict++