Xiangfu Bridge

Xiangfu Bridge

Xiangfu Bridge is a Zhejiang Provincial-level Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Xiangfu Bridge (Provincial-level Cultural Relics Protection Unit)

Era: Ming Dynasty

Announcement Date: March 16, 2005

The original construction date of Xiangfu Bridge is unknown, but it was already recorded in local chronicles from the Southern Song Dynasty. The current structure is a Ming Dynasty building — a five-arch stone beam bridge that runs north-south across Huan Tang River, measuring 28 meters in length and 3.6 meters in width. The bridge’s railings come in plain and Sumeru pedestal styles, and the tops of the bridge pillars are carved with either inverted lotus or stone lions.

The Xiangfu area features a network of crisscrossing rivers, creeks, and ponds. The newly excavated canal and Huan Tang River both pass through the town. Since the Southern Song Dynasty, grain transport ships from Suzhou, Huzhou, Changzhou, Xiuzhou, and Runzhou all traveled via Xiangfu Town to reach Hangzhou. As the main bridge in the town, Xiangfu Bridge played an important transportation role, reflecting the historical character of Xiangfu Town. It is also one of the rare beam bridges in downtown Hangzhou, with distinctive carvings that hold high research value.

Source: Zhejiang Cultural Relics Website

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Zhejiang Provincial-level Cultural Relics Protection Units