Xinqiao Bridge

Xinqiao Bridge

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

Xinqiao Bridge is located in Miaojiachu Village, Xinqi Town, Yinan County, spanning the Miaojiachu River from east to west. Before 1954, the Yi-Xin Highway passed over this bridge.

The bridge is an arched stone structure built with block stones. It is 60 meters long, 4.6 meters wide, and 6 meters high, with a gentle surface. The eastern approach bridge is 50 meters long, and the western approach bridge is 30 meters long. There are 11 arched spans, each 4.2 meters wide and 4.6 meters high. Originally, there was a pair of stone lions on each stone pillar of the east and west railings, and a stone monkey on each of the north and south pillars in the middle of the bridge. Other pillars are shaped like drums, balls, double furnaces, and gemstones.

The relief carvings on the railings include: Immortal Pointing the Way, God of Longevity Attending a Gathering, Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea, Qilin Delivering a Child, The Old Man of the South Pole, Lotus Fairy, Wang Xiang Lying on Fish, Guo Ju Burying His Son, Li Cunxiao Fighting a Tiger, Dragon and Tiger Dueling, Two Dragons Playing with a Ball, Lion Rolling a Silk Ball, White Ape Stealing Peaches, Rhinoceros Gazing at the Moon, Seven Tigers Gazing at the Sun, Phoenix Playing with Peonies, Pine, Crane, Plum, and Deer, Grapevine Trellis, Lotus and Egret, Bamboo Shadows and Peacock—exquisite stone carvings with vivid imagery and masterful craftsmanship. On the upper parts of the arches on the north and south sides, there are 11 carved dragon heads and tails respectively, and on the southern side of the western approach bridge, there is one dragon head with no tail on the northern side, representing the local legendary figure "Bald-Tail Old Li."

This bridge is a provincial-level key cultural relic protection unit.

According to the Zhang Family Genealogy from Zhangjiawang, Xinqi Town, and the tombstone of Zhang Lin, in the 13th year of the Yongzheng reign, the seventh-generation ancestor Zhang Lin raised funds to renovate Xinqiao Bridge, a project that took four years to complete.

Xinqi Town: A town under the jurisdiction of Yinan County. In 1949, it was part of Yongtai District; in 1958, it was called Xinqi Township; in 1963, it became a district; in 1968, it was changed to a commune; in 1984, it reverted to a district; in 1985, it became a township; and in 1994, it was established as a town. Located in the southeastern part of the county, it covers an area of 41.6 square kilometers with a population of 27,000. The Donghong Highway runs through the town. The town administers Xinqi, Xiaozhuangzi, Fangjiazhuangzi, Dongnanzhuang, Yulinzi, Liujiazhuangzi, Maoshengzhuang, Shanzi, Xiwangxian, Dongwangxian, Zhengjiaying, Miaojiachu, Yongcheng, Manjiadianzi, Caimincun, Miaoling, Lijiadazhuang, Gaotuntun, Lizhitun, Yuan... More detailed information about Xinqi Town++

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Shandong Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units