Jian’ou Zhiqing Bridge

Jian’ou Zhiqing Bridge

Jian’ou Zhiqing Bridge is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Jian’ou Zhiqing Bridge is located in Huangcun Village, Dikou Town, Jian’ou City. Originally built in the third year of the Hongzhi reign during the Ming Dynasty (1490), it has a history of over 520 years. It is one of the oldest and best-preserved ancient covered bridges in the province. This cantilever-style wooden covered bridge is also among the earlier surviving beam-type covered bridges in China. Its construction method follows the authentic Song Dynasty architectural style, giving it high cultural relic and research value. The bridge runs from north to south, with most of its northern end built on solid ground and bridge piers. The bridge deck is paved with wooden planks, and windbreak boards hang under the eaves. It has a depth of ten bays and uses 41 pillars in total, with railings and resting benches on both sides. At the center of the caisson ceiling, there is a large T-shaped bracket set, adorned with painted dragon motifs and other decorations. Ink inscriptions on the main beams include characters reading “the third year of the Hongzhi reign of the Great Ming.” The bridge piers are built with block stones, topped with a crisscross pattern of round timbers that extend layer by layer toward the center of the river. Finally, long round timbers are laid to connect the two piers and form the bridge structure. Most bridges do not have a caisson ceiling and only feature a single shrine. However, this bridge not only has a caisson but also includes shrines at the head, tail, and middle of the bridge. Local villagers even place coffins here, reflecting local customs. Most remarkably, the bridge’s interior architecture carries the legacy of the Song Dynasty. The brackets inside the caisson are stacked layer upon layer without using a single nail—entirely constructed through mortise-and-tenon joinery. The decorations are simple, sturdy, and powerful, exhibiting great aesthetic appeal.

It is understood that there are very few surviving wooden structures in China that predate the Song Dynasty. The brackets, curved beams, and other structural elements of Zhiqing Bridge are authentic and follow the Song Dynasty construction techniques, yet they also possess distinctive characteristics of the Fujian region. This makes the bridge highly significant for the study of Ming Dynasty architecture in the province and the evolution of beam-type wooden covered bridges.

In 2013, Zhiqing Bridge was designated as part of the eighth batch of Provincial-Level Cultural Relics Protection Units by the Fujian Provincial People’s Government.

On October 7, 2019, Jian’ou Zhiqing Bridge was included in the eighth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Protected area: an additional 20 meters outward from all sides of the bridge.

Dikou Town: Located in the southern part of Jian’ou City, Dikou Town is 86 kilometers from the city center. It borders Fengdu Town of Gutian County to the east, Yanghou Town of Yanping District to the south, Nanshan Town of Yanping District to the west, and Baizhang Village of Xiaqiao Town to the north. The town lies at the junction of Gutian, Nanping, and Jian’ou (three counties/cities). Dikou Town governs 17 administrative villages, 100 natural villages, 162 villager groups, 8,322 households, and a population of 32,534, including 31,120 agricultural residents, 1,411 non-agricultural residents, and 10,577 laborers. Among them, there are 1,637 laborers aged 60 and above, and 41... More details about Dikou Town++

Further reading:

· Eighth Batch of Fujian Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Eighth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units