Ruins of Shunji Bridge

Ruins of Shunji Bridge

The Ruins of Shunji Bridge is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Fujian Province.

Originally built in the fourth year of the Jiading era during the Southern Song Dynasty (1211), the bridge was funded by foreign merchants who came to Quanzhou, with contributions facilitated by Zou Yinglong, the prefect of Quanzhou at the time. The bridge runs east-west. Its original foundation structure utilized large blocks and slabs of stone dumped across the entire riverbed, while the piers were made of dry-laid stone slabs. The upper structure consisted of stone beams, with railings on both sides. This granite beam bridge was approximately over 150 zhang in length and 1.4 zhang in width, with 31 piers. At the time of the bridge’s construction, within the southern gate of the ancient city of Quanzhou — Deji Gate — there stood the Tianhou Palace, originally named Shunji Palace, which was dedicated to the sea goddess Mazu. The bridge derives its name from this palace. Over the dynasties, the Shunji Bridge underwent multiple restorations. Today, only parts of the bridge deck and 11 piers remain. On the western side, six piers and a continuous section of the bridge deck survive; on the eastern side, four piers and part of the bridge deck remain. In the middle section, only one pier still stands at a considerable height, while the remaining piers are only partially visible above water during low tide. Shunji Bridge served as an important “passageway” connecting the ancient city of Quanzhou to the Jin River, providing valuable historical insights into the development of ancient bridges in the Quanzhou area and the region’s maritime trade.

Address: On the Jinjiang River in Licheng District, Quanzhou City (southern part of Quanzhou City)

Further Reading:

· Ninth Batch of Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Units in Fujian Province