Longtan Bridge

Longtan Bridge

Longtan Bridge is a cultural relic protection unit of Hunan Province.

Longtan Bridge

Dating back to the Qing Dynasty, it is located in Wentang Town and Tianping Town, Xinhua County. This is a wooden covered bridge with cantilever features that spans the Youxi River valley.

Longtan Bridge is situated about 70 kilometers northeast of Xinhua County, on the southern side of the Xuefeng Mountain Range, between Longtan Village in Wentang Town and Datong Village in Tianping Town. The Youxi River flows beneath the bridge before joining the Zi River.

Longtan Bridge was built in the eighth year of the Xianfeng reign during the Qing Dynasty (1858). It is a purely wooden covered bridge with a stone pier and cantilever structure, measuring 58 meters in length and 5 meters in width. The bridge features exquisite craftsmanship and a unique structure. It was funded and constructed by villagers and local gentry from the “Three Pools and Five Villages” during the Xianfeng period of the Qing Dynasty. Due to years of neglect, many wooden beams and pillars were damaged by insects and rot, causing the entire bridge to tilt. It has since been restored.

The bridge boasts exquisite design, demonstrates fine architectural style, and holds certain historical value.

On May 19, 2002, it was designated as a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit by the People's Government of Hunan Province, with the designation number 49-8.

Source: Overview of Cultural Relics in Hunan

Wentang Town: "Wentang Town is located in the northeastern part of Xinhua County, with the town center in Wentang Village. It is 45 kilometers from the county seat. To the east and south, it borders Lianyuan City and Lengshuijiang City; to the west and north, it neighbors Tianping Town, Zuoshi Township, and Sangzi Town of the same county. The town comprises 50 administrative villages, with 12,634 households and a population of 54,285. The total land area is 168 square kilometers, including 89,822 mu of forested land and 44,103 mu of arable land—24,645 mu of paddy fields and 16,458 mu of dry land. The area has widespread limestone distribution, significant surface undulation, with the highest elevation at 903 meters and the lowest at 387 meters. The annual avera… Detailed information about Wentang Town++"