HuiLan Bridge

HuiLan Bridge

In the patriarchal clan society under imperial rule, self-governance by local gentry brought vitality to the land. Various clans built ancestral halls, established schools, and set up educational estates to educate their descendants, fostering among clan members and merchants a reverence for morality and etiquette. The Guo clan not only consistently honored their ancestors and traditions but also generously contributed to the welfare of local villagers. The 13th revised edition of the "Wanzai Tiannan Guo Clan Genealogy" records: "Our county is situated at the bend of the Long River, with a single waterway running through the town, joining from Nanpu to Xueqian, then flowing downstream past the city weir to reach the Shu River. The reason why residents on both banks can travel back and forth without hindrance is all thanks to the bridges. 'From Wangjia Bridge westward, passing over Bijia Zhou, lies an especially crucial thoroughfare.' Thus, during the Kangxi era, Guo Zhongzhen initiated the construction of a stone bridge here, 'naming it HuiLan for the sight of the penholder-shaped islet and swirling currents,' also known as Guojia Bridge. From then on, 'travelers going east and west found it extremely convenient.'

After enduring a century of wind and rain, the western side of HuiLan Bridge gradually sank and fell into disrepair, with what remained broken, eroded, and frightening to passersby. 'Whenever spring floods rose, people would stare in horror and turn back.' At that time, some were moved to repair the bridge, but they hesitated due to the 'daunting difficulty' and 'prohibitive cost,' so 'in the end, no one stepped forward bravely' to undertake the repairs. 'Only the esteemed members of the Guo clan rose to the occasion,' taking it upon themselves to restore the bridge. 'Thus, the entire clan united to share the burden,' collecting a total of 653,000 wen in donations. Repairs began in August of the 20th year of the Jiaqing reign (1815 AD) and were completed in mid-November. The bridge was nine zhang nine chi long, five chi wide, and over one zhang high, with seven piers, and both shores were paved with smooth stones as flat as a whetstone. Guo Anlan wrote "A Sequel to the Record of the Renovation of HuiLan Bridge," which reads: 'The bridge is named HuiLan in memory of the penholder islet. It is located on the central islet of the town, surrounded by all things. Travelers come and go like fish crossing a river, while boats upstream and downstream shuttle back and forth like weaving shuttles... Our ancestor Zhongzhen created this bridge in the early Kangxi period (around 1665 AD), and successive generations of clan elites repaired it during the Jiaqing era... Yet over the years, erosion left it worn and broken, with ruts from carts and horses making the surface uneven. When spring floods rose, people often hesitated and turned back; in the dead of night, many grew fearful. In the 13th year of the Republic, the public initiated the project, the whole clan approved, donating thousands of strings of cash; building a precious raft for ten thousand people, adding one more beam of bridge stone, raising three chi on the piers, completing the work in four months, bringing joy to the whole county. With others yielding, I took the lead, feeling as joyful as ascending a spring terrace, soaring above the clouds. Though it was a momentary splendor, it truly laid the foundation for all things...' By the end of the Republican era, the bridge remained solid.

Bridges serve functions in spatial architecture such as aesthetic appreciation, sightseeing, and dividing scenic spaces. In various attractions, those uniquely designed, elegant stone slab bridges, wooden bridges, stone arch bridges, arched bridges, and covered bridges appear either graceful and delicate, majestic like rainbows, quaintly versatile, or exquisitely detailed. The solemnity of stone bridges, the lightness of wooden bridges, the thrill of cable bridges, and the precariousness of cobblestone bridges—all reflect the moon’s shimmer on the water, composing a perfect picture with the surrounding lakes and mountains.

A local poet, Guo Dingqi, inspired by the scenery, composed the poem "Penholder and HuiLan": "The bay waters swirl with emerald waves, / Amid the ripples rises a lofty pen. / The layered turtleback stirs poetic thoughts, / As ink flows freely, inspiration abounds." The poem depicts the beautiful scenery of Bijia Zhou and HuiLan Bridge, with deep love for his hometown vividly expressed.