Nanao Erban Bridge

Nanao Erban Bridge

Erban Bridge is located outside the west gate of the former Nanao Town in Nanao County, Shantou City—now Houzhailing in Shen’ao Town. Built of stone, it served as the essential passage from Long’ao to Shen’ao in ancient times. According to Volume 17 “Transportation” of the Nanao County Annals (1945), published in the 34th year of the Republic of China (1945): … It is three zhang and five chi long and four zhang wide. Constructed during the Ming Dynasty, the bridge collapsed during the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty, and was later rebuilt through donations by Lady Huang Long, wife of the then regional commander. Inside the nearby Fude Temple, there is a stele titled “Record of Public Merit for Rebuilding the Stone Bridge,” which stands 157 cm tall and 54 cm wide. The top of the stele features characters written in Wei-style calligraphy, each 10 cm square. The main text is in standard script, arranged in 10 lines with 27 to 29 characters per line, each character 4 cm in size. The stele is bordered by decorative frames. In the 53rd year of the Kangxi era (1714), Xie Danming, Xie Qinhui, Dai Huang’en, Huang Shixiang, Mo Qifeng, and Cai Jieshi initiated the restoration. The inscription details how Lady Huang Long, wife of Nanao’s regional commander during the 53rd year of the Kangxi reign, funded the reconstruction of Erban Bridge.