Chongren Sanchuan Bridge

Chongren Sanchuan Bridge

The Chongren Sanchuan Bridge is a cultural relic protection unit of Jiangxi Province.

During the third national cultural relics survey, our city investigated and registered a total of 4,395 immovable cultural relics, including 3,790 newly discovered ones and 605 re-examined ones. Among these, only six were selected as part of Jiangxi’s “Top 100 New Cultural Relics Discoveries,” with one being a covered bridge — the Sanchuan Bridge in Xufang Township, Chongren County. The Sanchuan Bridge not only maintains its complete covered bridge appearance but is also unique as a “single-arch covered bridge,” making it a one-of-a-kind among the historical relics discovered in Jiangxi Province.

On June 12, a reporter visited Sanchuan Village in Xufang Township to conduct an interview. Villagers led the reporter to the Sanchuan Bridge for photos. This covered bridge, originally built during the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty, has stood for over 260 years and still retains its charm thanks to the villagers’ preservation efforts. The Sanchuan Bridge embodies the ingenuity of ancient Fuzhou craftsmen, admired by provincial cultural relics experts for its exquisite shape, unique structure, and rich cultural connotations. Walking several hundred meters north along the newly built cement road from the village, one can see from afar a covered bridge with dark tiles and red walls. Upon entering the bridge, the reporter found that it serves multiple functions such as a pavilion, platform, tower, and loft. From a distance, it resembles a house with traditional Han-style tiled roofing. The middle of the bridge features stepped slopes, with a lane left in the center for vehicles, allowing people and traffic to pass without interference. The numerous wooden supports and mortise-and-tenon structures give the bridge remarkable stability. For over 200 years, it has served as a gathering and cooling-off spot for villagers, as well as a shelter from rain and sun for travelers. In the middle of the bridge sits a shrine enshrining a statue of Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy, which enjoys lively worship.

The middle section of the bridge also preserves historical materials from 2002, when villagers contributed funds to renovate the Sanchuan Bridge. Provincial cultural relics experts noted that the bridge’s unique and elegant design, along with its well-preserved condition, provides important physical evidence for the study of Qing Dynasty bridge construction and evolution.

Xufang Township: Xufang Township, under the jurisdiction of Chongren County, Fuzhou City, Jiangxi Province, is located on the eastern border of Chongren County. It borders Linchuan District to the northeast, Yihuang County to the east and south, connects to Guoxu Township and Libi Town to the west, and is adjacent to Liujiaqiao Township and Hangbu Town to the north. The township covers a total area of 84 square kilometers. It administers eight village committees: Xufang, Shibe, Anyuan, Changshakeng, Huangfang, Sanchuanqiao, Zhongfang, and Xinjian, comprising 70 villager groups and 62 natural villages. The township government is located in Xufang Street, 25 kilometers from the county seat. The resident population was 13,125 in 2017. It is often described as having “seven mountains, half water, two parts fields, and half roads and estates.” … Xufang Township detailed information++

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Jiangxi Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units