Xima Bridge

Xima Bridge

Xima Bridge is a cultural relic protection unit of Shandong Province.

Xima Bridge is an arch bridge made of stone, located on the former course of the Hui River to the south of Xima Village in Jieshan Town, Dongping County, Shandong Province. It earned its name from the legend that Emperor Zhenzong of the Song Dynasty had straw mats laid on the bridge when he crossed it.

The "Dongping Prefecture Records" from the Guangxu era of the Qing Dynasty state that Xima Bridge was originally built during the Song Dynasty. In the year 1008, Emperor Zhenzong of the Song Dynasty traveled eastward to offer sacrifices at Mount Tai and passed through this area. According to legend, when he crossed the bridge, straw mats were laid down, which is how the bridge got its name. The bridge was repaired during the Dading era of the Jin Dynasty and the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty. It underwent maintenance twice, in 1921 and 1934. After the 1950s, the Shandong Provincial Communications Department carried out several rounds of repairs and reinforcement on the bridge.

Xima Bridge is a stone arch bridge with a total length of approximately 107 meters, including a main bridge section that is 21.7 meters long. There are approach bridges on both the east and west sides of the main bridge, measuring 25 meters and 58 meters in length, respectively. The bridge is 3.25 meters high, with a deck that is 5.6 meters wide, paved with stone slabs. It has three arches, each with a diameter of 7 meters.

To the east of Xima Bridge lies a historical site dating back to the Zhou and Han dynasties, where artifacts such as pottery dou vessels and li tripod leg fragments have been unearthed.

In 1967, the Tai-Dong Highway was rerouted to the north of the original road and no longer passed over the ancient Xima Bridge. Since then, the bridge has only been used for local villagers' passage. At the same time, the local government constructed a new stone arch bridge on the new Tai-Dong Highway, also named Xima Bridge. The newly built Xima Bridge is located northwest of Xima Village, with a length of 89 meters, spanning the straightened course of the Hui River.

In June 2015, Xima Bridge was designated as part of the fifth batch of provincial-level cultural relic protection units in Shandong Province.

Jieshan Town: Located in the southwest of Shandong Province, Jieshan Township in Dongping County is close to the county seat, bordered by Mount Tai to the east and Dongping Lake to the west. The Dawen River flows around the area, while the Hui River runs north-south through the entire region. The area boasts a rich historical and cultural heritage, including ancient city ruins from the Western Zhou to the Three Kingdoms Wei periods such as Zhangyi, the provincial-level cultural relic of Dai Village Dam, and the former office site of Luo Ronghuan. With beautiful mountains and rivers, a pleasant climate, diverse landforms, and superior natural conditions, the area is abundant in resources. It covers a regional area of 150 square kilometers, with 128,000 mu of arable land, divided equally among plains, mountainous areas, and hills. The township comprises 52 administrative villages and has a population of 65,000.

　…… More details about Jieshan Town++

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units in Shandong Province