Dragon Gate of Yu's Traces

Dragon Gate of Yu's Traces

The bridge is located beside Xianjiang Village in Shiqiao Township and is a natural stone bridge spanning the two banks of Zhongshui River. Formerly inscribed with the name “Dragon Gate of Yu's Traces,” it is one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Jiahe. The bridge runs from east to west with a single central arch wide enough for sailboats to pass through. Legend has it that an immortal used a divine whip to drive two stone mountains to block the flow of Zhongshui River. When the water was dammed and could not flow, the immortal kicked open an arch, forming a triangle that is sharp at the top and wide at the bottom, allowing the water to flow smoothly again. At both ends of the bridge sit pairs of stone lions looking down, while stone railings on both sides are adorned with bas-reliefs of famous ancient paintings. At the western end stands the Stone Dragon Temple, entirely built with carved, glazed bricks, housing statues of deities such as the Monkey King. To its right stands a stone stele whose surface is extremely smooth and is called the “Stone Mirror,” as it can reflect people’s images. Looking diagonally to the right of the “Stone Mirror,” one can see a reflection of a corner of Xianjiang Village. Beside the bridge arch is a natural cave. A local scholar named Lei Defan inscribed the name “Peach Blossom Spring Cave.”

The three characters. In 1962, the bridge was renovated into a highway bridge, becoming a vital transportation route to Shiqiao, Guiyang, and other places. A couplet reads: “Never have we believed in immortals who could shrink the earth or move stones with whips—there have been plenty of such people; now this bridge goes straight to Lingqiao, piercing clouds and mist, daring to rival the heavens.”