Anping Bridge (Five-Mile Bridge)

Anping Bridge (Five-Mile Bridge)

Anping Bridge (Five-Mile Bridge) is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level.

Commonly known as Five-Mile Bridge, it spans the bay at the border between Anhai in Jinjiang and Shuitou in Nan’an. Construction began in the eighth year of the Shaoxing era of the Song Dynasty (1138) and was completed thirteen years later.

It is the longest existing ancient sea harbor stone bridge in China, with a total length of 2,255 meters, a width of 3–3.8 meters, and 361 piers. The bridge has five pavilions: Shuixin Pavilion, Lou Pavilion, Middle Pavilion, Rain Pavilion, and Palace Pavilion. At the eastern end of the bridge stands a 22-meter-tall white pagoda, a five-story, six-sided hollow brick structure coated with white plaster. The towering pagoda and the long bridge complement each other beautifully.

Ancient records

According to the "Jinjiang County Annals": "The boundary between Jinjiang and Nan’an was formerly crossed by boat. In the eighth year of the Shaoxing era of the Song Dynasty, Monk Zupai began building a stone bridge but did not complete it. Twenty-one years later, Magistrate Zhao Lingjin finished it, creating 362 spillways (i.e., 362 bridge openings), with a total length of 811 zhang and a width of 1 zhang 6 chi..."

Zhao Lingjin, who oversaw the bridge’s construction, was delighted to have completed the world’s longest bridge

and wrote a poem: "To ask the way to Anping, I set out at nightfall; no dogs bark in the homes, but the lanes are filled with the scent of hearths; moonlight shines on newly tilled fields, and the mountains embrace the endless countryside; plum blossoms smile to greet me, and the letter reports the arrival of the little Lord of Spring." According to the Ming-era "Annals of Anhai," the people of ancient Anhai were skilled in seafaring and maritime trade. During the Song and Yuan dynasties, merchants had connections across the land and sea, and their reach spanned the world. From the pearls of the South Seas to the jade of Yuechang, nothing was beyond their grasp, and they traveled to lands of tattooed tribes and painted-faced nations... This all illustrates the prosperity of Anhai’s overseas trade during the Song Dynasty. The construction of Anping Bridge stands as a physical testament to the thriving maritime transport and social economy of the time. It also reflects the architectural ingenuity of the laboring people of Quanzhou.

Guo Moruo’s poem

The contemporary poet Guo Moruo once visited Anping Bridge and left behind a regulated verse: "The Five-Mile Bridge becomes a land bridge, the old residence of the Zheng princely house has vanished entirely; the heroic spirit endures through the ages, the spirit of labor soars to the ninth heaven; do not believe that Zeng Gong truly dreamed of vinegar, love to see Ming’an occasionally compose cake verses; who can recognize the pride of reclaiming Taiwan, the first to blaze a trail through the thorns!"

Zheng Chenggong’s hometown

"Anping Bridge" spans the bay between Nan’an County, the hometown of Zheng Zhilong (Zheng Chenggong’s father), and Jinjiang County, with the other end of the bridge leading to Anhai Town. In ancient times, Anhai was called "Anping Dao," from which the name "Anping Bridge" originates. It was renamed Shijing Town during the Song Dynasty, then Anhai Town in the Ming Dynasty. Later, after Zheng Zhilong established his administration in Anhai, it reverted to its ancient name, Anping.

Later, Zheng Zhilong’s son, the renowned national hero Zheng Chenggong, returned to China from Japan at the age of seven and lived in Anping. Zheng Chenggong’s Japanese birth mother, Tagawa Matsu, also perished in Anping. After Zheng Chenggong sailed across the sea to conquer Taiwan and drive out the Dutch, he renamed the Dutch stronghold of Fort Zeelandia (Zeelandia)—located in Tayouan—to Anping in honor of his hometown and mother. This is now Anping District of Tainan City in modern-day Taiwan.

Historical achievements

"Anping Bridge" was initiated by the wealthy local merchant Huang Hu, who donated 30,000 strings of cash (one string, or min [緡], equals 1,000 coins) to fund its construction. Work began in 1138 and was completed in 1152, taking fifteen years. At the time, China had just endured the invasion of the Jurchen-led Jin Dynasty, with the north fallen, the emperors Huizong and Qinzong captured, and the Song court relocating its capital to Hangzhou. Amid such political turmoil, the people were still able to undertake such a massive project as Anping Bridge, demonstrating the prosperity of the southeastern coastal economy, the development of commerce and industry, and the social stability of the Song Dynasty—all of which could be attributed to the flourishing overseas trade.

The wealthy merchant Huang Hu, who initiated the construction of Anping Bridge, made his fortune through overseas trade. Born in 1086 (the first year of the Yuanyou era of Emperor Zhezong of the Northern Song Dynasty), Huang Hu studied literature from a young age and originally aspired to an official career. He took the imperial examinations at seventeen but failed. Later, he turned to business, joining his uncle Gao Jichang at twenty to trade in Guangdong, then crossing the sea to Borneo (modern-day Brunei) to expand his ventures. By thirty, he returned home in glory, opening twelve shops in Anhai selling grains, produce, and general goods, as well as food, seafood, and delicacies, becoming the wealthiest man in Anhai.

Huang Hu was well-read and enjoyed scholarly pastimes such as seal and clerical script calligraphy, chess, and poetic riddles, earning him the nickname "Tiger of the Riddle World." He loved associating with eminent monks, often visiting Longshan Temple to drink tea and discuss Zen Buddhism with them for entire days without tiring. Known for his philanthropy, the locals elected him as the "village head" (lizheng [里正]) in 1132. He "promoted agriculture and sericulture, valued commerce and industry, established charitable schools, founded a pharmacy, opened a foundling home, supported martial arts, punished evil, banned gambling, beautified the city, regulated street drums, and organized neighborhood watches," diligently building up the locality and benefiting the community.

In 1138, Huang Hu donated 30,000 strings of cash to initiate the construction of "Anping Bridge." Halfway through the project, Huang Hu unfortunately passed away in 1144 (the fourteenth year of the Shaoxing era of Emperor Gaozong of the Southern Song Dynasty) at the age of fifty-eight and was posthumously honored with the title of "Magistrate of Jinjiang County." Known for his public-mindedness, in addition to initiating Anping Bridge, Huang Hu also donated land for the construction of Shijing Academy and funded the renovation of Anhai’s Longshan Temple.

After Huang Hu’s death, his son Huang Yi continued his father’s work, overseeing the completion of Anping Bridge, which was finally finished in 1152. Later generations of the Huang clan in Tonglin Village, Anhai Town, revered Huang Hu as their founding ancestor. Zheng Zhilong’s paternal aunt, Huang Cishen, and stepmother were both descendants of Huang Hu.

In March 1961, Five-Mile Bridge was designated a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level. In recent years, substantial funds have been allocated to repair collapsed and broken piers and slabs, restore three pavilions, bridge towers, and railings. Silt around the bridge has been dredged to restore the scenic beauty of the bridge reflected in the water. A highway and sluice bridge have been built downstream, improving transportation access.

Address: No. 3, Xing’an Road, Anhai Town, Jinjiang City, Quanzhou, Fujian Province

Admission

Free

Opening Hours

8:00–17:30

Further Reading:

· China’s Top 50 Existing Ancient Architectural Structures

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