Ninghai Bridge

Ninghai Bridge

Ninghai Bridge is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Era: Yuan Dynasty

Address: Qiaodou Village, Huangshi Town, Putian County, Fujian Province, China

Here, streams and the sea converge, with fierce tides and rapid currents rolling in torrents of silt, making bridge construction extremely challenging. Over a span of more than 300 years—from the second year of the Yuantong era (1334) of the Yuan Dynasty to the 19th year of the Kangxi era (1680) of the Qing Dynasty—the bridge was built and destroyed six times.

The existing bridge was built over 15 years starting from the 10th year of the Yongzheng era (1732) of the Qing Dynasty. It is 225.7 meters long and 5.8 meters wide, with 14 ship-shaped stone piers each 10 meters high. The clear span between two piers ranges from 8.8 to 11.8 meters, which is greater than the spans of the famous Wuli Bridge and Luoyang Bridge in China. The bridge deck is paved with 75 huge stone slabs, each 13 meters long and 1.2 meters wide and thick. Each slab is inscribed with the name and donation amount of its contributor. The sides of the bridge deck are lined with stone railings, and the tops of the balusters are carved with simple yet varied stone lion reliefs. At both ends of the bridge, there were originally four stone statues of bridge-guarding generals, each about 3 meters tall, clad in armor and helmets, holding long swords. Only two remain today, and they were sculpted during the Ming Dynasty.

Watching the sunrise from the bridge, golden rays pour down directly beneath it, resembling golden dragons chasing waves—an awe-inspiring and spectacular sight, hence the reputation “First Sunrise over Ninghai.” The bridge is now a Provincial Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

In 1983, a layer of cement bridge deck was added to the bridge, through which the highway from Xiuyu Port to Hanjiang runs, connecting with the Fuzhou–Xiamen Highway. Construction of the new Ninghai Bridge has officially begun to protect this ancient Yuan Dynasty bridge from further damage.

Qiaodou Village: Introduction to Qiaodou Village

Qiaodou Village is located 5 kilometers north of Huangshi Town, Licheng District. To the east is Meifu Pavilion in Meifu Village (hometown of Concubine Yang), Jiangdong Village; to the north lies the winding and picturesque Mulan River, along with the Yuan Dynasty-built Ninghai Bridge. One of the famous Twenty-Four Scenic Spots of Putian—“First Sunrise over Ninghai”—is found here. The new Ninghai Bridge is currently under construction and will soon become a great leisure and entertainment destination. The village covers an area of approximately 1.95 square kilometers, with 10 villager groups, 437 households, and a population of 1,856. The village has seven cadres on its two committees, and... More detailed information about Qiaodou Village++

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units