Bantou Flower Bridge

Bantou Flower Bridge

Bantou Flower Bridge is a cultural relic protection unit of Fujian Province.

Bantou Flower Bridge is a key cultural relic protection unit at the county level. It is located on the Panxi River in Bantou Village, Yangyuan Township. Originally built in the sixth year of the Zhengde era of Emperor Wuzong of the Ming Dynasty (1511), it underwent two renovations during the Kangxi and Daoguang reigns of the Qing Dynasty, was rebuilt in the third year of the Xianfeng era (1853), destroyed by fire in the first year of the Republic of China (1911), and reconstructed in the third year of the Republic (1914). It was renovated again in 1982. It is a single-span covered bridge with a pavilion-style stone arch and wooden structure, with a clear span of 12.2 meters, 13 bays, a width of 8 meters, and a height of 16 meters. The bridge runs north to south and is 40 meters long. The central main pavilion has three tiers of upturned eaves, while the side pavilions to the north and south have two tiers of upturned eaves, each adorned with wind chimes, nine of which remain today. There are 80 bridge pillars arranged in six rows, and over 30 couplets are inscribed on the pillars and beams. The roof features an inverted-bowl-shaped caisson ceiling, and the arches, beams, and pillars are painted with figures, stories, and floral designs. The bridge houses nine shrines with statues of deities, and the central pavilion and the pavilions at both ends contain altars. The tips of two swords can be seen protruding from the stone joints on either side of the arch, pointing directly toward the stream. Inside the bridge pavilions are two stone steles from the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty documenting the renovations.

Source: Local Chronicles of Zhenghe County

Bantou Village: In the Tang Dynasty, Bantou Village was divided into three parts: Dongmian Bantou (eastern Bantou), Ximian Xiachi (western Xiachi), and Nanmian Xialin (southern Xialin, now Zhutou). Eastern Bantou was established by the Wei and Ye families, while the Zhu and Chen families lived in Xiachi and Xialin respectively. By the Qing Dynasty, the Chen family had prospered and the other three families had successively moved away. Moreover, when Chen Wenli passed the imperial examination and returned home in glory, he even named the village Wenli Village after himself. Historically, the village produced notable figures such as Chen Heng and Chen Wenli. In the early years of the Republic of China, the village was relatively large and prosperous, with over 40 residences. However, in the 16th year of the Republic (1927), a fire destroyed more than 20 houses. By the 38th year of the Republic (1949), there were 2... More details about Bantou Village++

Further Reading:

· Ninth Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Fujian Province