Canal Bridge

Canal Bridge

Canal Bridge is a cultural relic protection unit of Anhui Province.

Canal Bridge is located in Santai Town, Funan County, Anhui Province. Historical documents indicate that the bridge was constructed before the Ming Dynasty. It has an arched brick-and-stone structure, stretches over 60 meters in length and 7 meters in height, and spans the canal from north to south. It was a key route to the Dabie Mountains and played a significant role in both the War of Resistance against Japan and the Liberation War. Originally featuring nine arches, seven are still standing. The bridge is one of the better-preserved ancient large-scale arched brick-and-stone bridges in northern Anhui. It is a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit.

Legend has it that the bridge was funded and built by a local official during the Ming Dynasty, though the name of the official remains unverifiable. After its completion, Canal Bridge became a vital passage connecting ancient Yuzhou of the Ming and Qing Dynasties to the Dabie Mountains. Naturally, a bustling market emerged on both the northern and southern sides of the bridge, attracting numerous merchants and creating a lively atmosphere. Products such as tea and timber from the southern mountainous regions were transported northward, while silk, hemp, and oil from the north were shipped south. For a time, the area was filled with taverns, teahouses, and inns. Caravans and horse caravans flowed ceaselessly, leading to the road being dubbed the "Ancient Hemp Oil Road."

Nowadays, a modern highway bridge has been constructed several hundred meters downstream from the ancient bridge. While the old bridge is no longer the only route for locals to cross the river, it remains a major passageway for nearby residents.

The ancient Canal Bridge is a large multi-arch brick-and-stone structure spanning the canal from north to south. With a total length of approximately 190 meters, a height of 7 meters, and a width of 3.5 meters, the bridge is inlaid with four stone dragons. Their heads face west, while their bodies stretch across the bridge, and their mouths hold pearls. The dragons’ eyes are vivid and lifelike.

The ancient Canal Bridge consists of a main bridge and approach bridges. The main bridge has five arches, each about 4 meters wide and 5 meters high, while the approach bridges have three slightly smaller arches. However, a section of the approach bridge at the southern end remains buried underground and has yet to be excavated. According to local residents, when constructing the Canal Bridge, a mixture of lime powder and boiled glutinous rice soup was used as an adhesive—resulting in exceptional durability.

The bridge arches of Canal Bridge are designed to bear substantial loads, effectively distributing the pressure on the bridge deck. The four main piers are constructed from stone rollers and blue bricks, with their water-facing sides built into triangular shapes to significantly reduce water resistance. The approach bridges on both ends are equipped with three reserved arches each, allowing for rapid flood discharge during heavy rains to ensure the safety of the entire bridge.

As pedestrians walk across the bridge, they will notice a semi-circular section of the bridge that juts outward at the junction between the main bridge and the approach bridges. This section was specially designed to allow people or horse-drawn carts to pass safely—akin to the safety zones found on modern roads.