Beiguan Stone Bridge

Beiguan Stone Bridge

The Beiguan Stone Bridge is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Henan Province.

The Beiguan Stone Bridge in Runan, also known as Hongji Bridge, is located on the main street outside the north gate of Runan County. "Hongji" means "extensively benefiting the people." Originally built as a wooden bridge, it was reconstructed as a stone bridge in the 18th year of the Hongzhi reign during the Ming Dynasty (1505) by then-county magistrate Lei Zong. During the Jiajing reign, the prefect Huang Sihua oversaw its renovation and renamed it Bo'ai Bridge. It is now a provincial-level cultural heritage site of Henan Province.

Hongji Bridge is a five-arch stone bridge, stretching 55 meters from north to south and 7.3 meters wide from east to west, with a height of 11 meters. The bridge span over the river is 55 meters long, while the approach sections at both ends are each 10.5 meters long, also 7.3 meters wide, but only 10 meters high. The bridge deck is constructed from bluestone. Each side has 25 balusters, most of which date back to the Ming Dynasty, with eight made during the Qing Dynasty. The balusters are 1.2 meters tall with a square cross-section, each 0.3 to 0.31 meters wide. The tops of the balusters are carved with stone lions, beneath which are carved lotus pedestals, and under those are lotus-leaf-shaped bases. The lions are sculpted in various poses—some stand tall with heads raised, gazing at the sky; some stare intently at the bridge surface; others turn their heads sideways, playfully interacting with one another... Below the lion carvings are Sumeru pedestals, and the recessed areas beneath are adorned with interlocking patterns and two types of ruyi motifs. The spacing between the balusters ranges from 1.92 to 2 meters, with bluestone railings erected in between. The railings are connected to the balusters with mortise and tenon joints. Each railing panel is 1.89 meters long, 0.85 meters wide, 0.2 meters thick at the base, and 0.16 meters thick at the top, showing a slight taper. The inner sides of the railings are engraved with wooden texture patterns and other designs. The main body of the bridge is mainly built with plain gray flagstones, and the piers are sturdy and thick. The central arch is the largest, while the side arches are smaller, all supported by robust piers.

The entire bridge presents a grand, ancient, and majestic appearance. Having stood for over 500 years, it remains steadfast. During the Cultural Revolution, many of the stone lions on the balusters were destroyed as symbols of the "Four Olds." In later times, people often referred to the bridge simply as the North Gate Bridge based on its location.