Houshan Bridge

Houshan Bridge

Houshan Bridge is a cultural relics protection unit of Fujian Province.

Houshan Bridge is a provincial-level key cultural relics protection unit. Located on the Leping Stream in Houshan Village, Lingyao Township, it was originally built during the Ming Dynasty. The current structure was reconstructed in the fourth year of the Jiwei reign (1799) of the Qing Dynasty’s Jiaqing era in February, and has undergone two renovations after the founding of the People’s Republic of China, in 1969 and 2001. This bridge is a typical wooden arch covered bridge, measuring 41.5 meters in length and 5 meters in width, with a clear span of 32 meters, an arch height of 8.4 meters, and a roof height of 4.5 meters. Apart from the two high bridge piers at either end, which are made of stone to serve as structural supports, the main body of the bridge is constructed with interlocking ancient fir beams forming the arch. The bridge deck has 72 vertical pillars and 17 bridge-house bays. Guardrails are installed on both the east and west sides of the bridge, covered with three layers of weather shielding. The beams and square rafters of the bridge house were originally painted with calligraphy and paintings, though these have faded over time. According to inscriptions on the main beam of the bridge house, the master carpenters responsible for the Qing Dynasty reconstruction were Li Zhengman and Zhang Xinyou from Ningde, while the stonemasons were Su Chenggui and Su Chengxiang, also from Ningde.

Source: Local Chronicles of Zhenghe County

Lingyao Township: Lingyao Township is located in the northeastern part of Zhenghe County, Nanping City, Fujian Province, bordering Qingyuan in Zhejiang. A provincial highway (defense preparedness road) runs through the township, which has a long history of cross-border trade and is known as the "dry land port." It serves as a key gateway from northern Fujian to other provinces. Covering a total area of 122.5 square kilometers, Lingyao Township has 14,500 mu of arable land, governs 7 administrative villages, 56 natural villages, 68 villager groups, and a population of over 12,000. The average elevation is 650 meters, with a timber reserve of 250,000 cubic meters and bamboo forest covering 60,300 mu, producing more than one million poles of moso bamboo annually, earning it the reputation of the "Bamboo Township of Northern Fujian"... More information about Lingyao Township++

Further reading:

· Eighth Batch of Fujian Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units