Southeastern Fujian Corridor Bridges

Southeastern Fujian Corridor Bridges

The Southeastern Fujian Corridor Bridges are listed as Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level.

The Southeastern Fujian Corridor Bridges are located in northeastern Fujian Province, including areas such as Pingnan County, Shouning County, Zherong County, Gutian County, and Wuyishan City.

Qiancheng Bridge is located in Tangkou Village, Tangkou Township, Pingnan County. It was first built in the late Southern Song Dynasty, destroyed by floods in the late Ming Dynasty, rebuilt in the 54th year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1715), and then washed away again by floods in the 14th year of the Jiaqing reign (1809), and rebuilt once more in the 25th year of the Jiaqing reign (1820). The bridge features a wooden arch structure, runs from north to south, is 60.7 meters long and 4.9 meters wide, has one pier and two spans, with boat-shaped piers, and a single span of 27 meters. The bridge is covered with a double-sloped roof and features a 22-bay corridor house supported by a four-pillar, nine-purlin through-tenon framework. A shrine dedicated to the Five Manifestations Emperor is located at the center of the bridge. Wooden benches line both sides of the bridge house, with wind-shielding boards on the outer side. There are 39 stone steps at the northern end and 15 stone steps at the southern end, along with four stelae from the 2nd year of the Daoguang reign (1822) inscribed with the history of Qiancheng Bridge.

Wan’an Bridge, originally named “Longjiang Gongji Bridge” and commonly known as “Rainbow Bridge,” is located at the junction of Changqiao Village and Xincun in the southwestern part of Gufeng Town, Pingnan County. Initially built during the Song Dynasty, it was a stone-built, five-pier, six-span, zigzag wooden arch bridge. It was destroyed in the 16th year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty (1588). Rebuilt in the 7th year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1742), it was renamed Wan’an Bridge, meaning “Peace for All People.” It is also called Changqiao (Long Bridge). Destroyed by a mountain flood in 1952, it was restored in the same year. The bridge measures 97.4 meters in length, 4.8 meters in width, and 9.7 meters in height. It has boat-shaped piers, a wooden-plank bridge deck arranged in patterns, and a corridor with 37 bays, 38 partitions, and 152 columns. Wooden railings and seating are provided along both sides of the corridor, with flying eaves and through-tenon beams above, covered with green tiles. The bridgehead features a plaque inscribed with “Wan’an Bridge.” Yuqing Bridge, commonly known as the South Gate Flower Bridge, is located south of Chongcheng in Wuyishan City. Built during the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty (1875–1908) by a local gentry member in honor of his mother’s birthday, the bridge is 79.2 meters long, 6.7 meters wide, and 8.6 meters high. It has two abutments, two piers, and three spans, and is a double-curved wooden-stone arch bridge. The bridge house features a green-tile roof, over 100 wooden pillars, and 1.3-meter-high railings on both sides. The central bridge pavilion has a unique style. In 1931, when Fang Zhimin led the Red Tenth Army into Fujian, a regiment of enemies was defeated here. Red Army slogans can still be found on the beams of the bridge house.

In 2006, the Southeastern Fujian Corridor Bridges, as historical architecture from the Qing Dynasty, were included in the sixth batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level by the State Council.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level