Qing Dynasty Stone Arch Bridge

Qing Dynasty Stone Arch Bridge

(1) Zhongbu Yanggang Bridge Zhongbu Yanggang Bridge is located in Nijia Village, Zhongbu Town. The bridge is 42 meters long and 6 meters wide, featuring three stone arches with a single span of 7 meters each. It was built in the 44th year of the Qianlong reign during the Qing Dynasty (1779). Each end of the bridge has a 7-meter-long ramp serving as an approach. The railings on the western side of the bridge are constructed from bluestone. On the eastern side stands a pavilion housing two tall bluestone steles, each 2 meters high. According to the inscriptions on the steles, this bridge served as a major overland route connecting Leping, Yiyang, and Dexing. In October 1983, it was designated as a cultural relic protection unit of Leping County.

(2) Yongshan Jinfang Bridge Jinfang Bridge is located in Chexi Village, Yongshan Town. The bridge is 72 meters long and 8 meters wide, featuring five stone arches with a single span of 11 meters each. It was built in the 58th year of the Qianlong reign during the Qing Dynasty (1793), and an octagonal stone stupa stands on the bridge. According to the "Zhu Family Genealogy" of Chexi, the bridge originally had 25 pavilions, but unfortunately, none remain today. In October 1983, it was designated as a cultural relic protection unit of Leping County.

(3) Shangxu Yinquan Bridge Yinquan Bridge is located at the downstream entrance of the Qian??xi River in Shangxu Village, Taqian Town. The bridge is 40 meters long and 6 meters wide, consisting of three stone arches with a single span of 7 meters each. At the center of the bridge is embedded a fan-shaped stone stele inscribed with “乾隆壬辰冬月上浣” (the first ten days of the winter month in the renchen year of Qianlong) and the text “Yinquan Bridge” (Drinking Spring Bridge). On one side of the bridge is Shenfeng Mountain, which features several unique sights such as trees growing around stones and stones enveloping trees.

(4) Xiaxu Baochun Bridge Baochun Bridge is located at the upstream entrance of the Qian??xi River in Xiaxu Village, Taqian Town. The bridge is 40 meters long and 6 meters wide, consisting of three stone arches with a single span of 7 meters each. The bridge stele is inscribed with “乾隆六十年十月六日” (October 6, the 60th year of Qianlong) and the text “Baochun Bridge” (Spring Herald Bridge). One end of the bridge connects via the ancient Jin’gouwu post road for over ten li to Henglu, while the other end links via the ancient Ludan Street post road for over ten li to Fuliang.

(5) Shanjia Saiquan Bridge Saiquan Bridge is located at the downstream entrance of the Qian??xi River in Shanjia Village, Taqian Town. The bridge is 40 meters long and 6 meters wide, consisting of three stone arches with a single span of 7 meters each. The bridge stele is inscribed with “嘉庆戊寅冬月吉旦” (auspicious day in the winter month of the puyin year of Jiaqing) and the text “Saiquan Bridge” (Racing Spring Bridge), with an epigraph stating “constructed through funds raised by clan scholars.” At both ends of the bridge are three wind-powered waterwheels of varying diameters, which were used for pounding porcelain stone all year round. Yinquan Bridge, Baochun Bridge, and Saiquan Bridge are situated along the upper reaches of the western branch of the Qian??xi River in the Ta Keqiu Basin of Leping. The three bridges face each other within a distance of no more than one kilometer and were built during the prosperous Qianlong–Jiaqing era.

(6) Shitan Village Single-Arch Stone Bridge The single-arch stone bridge is located in Shitan Village, Yongshan Town. The bridge is 12 meters long, 4 meters wide, with an arch span of 7 meters. According to the bridge stele, it was first built during the transition between the Song and Yuan dynasties and served as the essential route for entering Wuyuan and Fuliang from northern Leping. It was rebuilt in the 28th year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1549) following the original design, and renovated again in the 25th year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1760).

(7) Chenjiabu Village Plank Stone Bridge The long plank stone bridge is located in Chenjia Village, Lilin Town. The bridge is over a hundred meters long, with 24 piers each 3.5 meters long, and a width of 1 meter. Legend has it that the bridge has a history of over 200 years.

(8) Yongzhen Bridge Yongzhen Bridge is located south of the entrance to Henglu Village, Shuangtian Town. It is an old pier-style flat stone bridge with three spans. The total length is 20 meters, and it is paved with three long stone slabs, each 1 meter wide. Records indicate that Yongzhen Bridge was first built during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty, and was renovated in the 20th year of the Daoguang reign (1840), in the winter month of the dingwei year. The bridge leads directly south to the county town.