The Ancient Dapengkou Stone Bridge

The Ancient Dapengkou Stone Bridge

The Ancient Dapengkou Stone Bridge is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Ancient Dapengkou Stone Bridge

The Ming-era Dapengkou Stone Bridge stretches from the south gate of Dapengkou Town in Daiyue District in the north to Chaping Village in Ciye Town, Ningyang County in the south. Constructed during the Longqing era of the Ming Dynasty (1567–1572), it earned the name “Ming Stone Bridge.” In the eighth year of the Yongzheng reign during the Qing Dynasty (1730), the bridge was destroyed by severe flooding. At that time, the renowned stonemason Jiang Guisong from Zhoudian carried out a charitable restoration, which is why it is also known as “Jiang’s Bridge.” The existing stone bridge has a total length of 221 meters, an S-shaped layout, a width of 2.5 meters, 65 arches, and 66 piers. The lengths of the arches vary, and the bridge deck is made up of over 360 large stone slabs. The structure is secured by hundreds of massive iron clamps. It is the oldest and most intact stone bridge remaining along the entire Dawen River, as well as the longest ancient stone bridge still in existence within the province.

Dapengkou Town: Located at the southern foot of the majestic Mount Tai and along the serene Dawen River, Dapengkou Town lies at the midpoint between the famous Mount Tai and Qufu, the hometown of Confucius, approximately 30 kilometers from each. It is under the jurisdiction of Daiyue District, Tai’an City, Shandong Province, covering a total area of 100 square kilometers, with 48 administrative villages and a population of 80,000. The world-renowned Dapengkou Culture originated here.

Since the reform and opening-up, Dapengkou Town has seen rapid and remarkable development. High-quality and efficient agriculture has flourished in all aspects, the private economy has grown steadily, commercial activity has further intensified, and cultural tourism related to Dapengkou has expanded comprehensively. Progress has also been made in education, science and technology, culture, broadcasting... More details about Dapengkou Town ++

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Shandong Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units