The Twin-Arch Bridge of Silian

The Twin-Arch Bridge of Silian

The Twin-Arch Bridge is located on the Lianjiang River at the entrance of Paifang Village in Silian Town. It was originally built in the 11th year of the Wanli era during the Ming Dynasty (1583) by the Tusi official Mo Zhenwei. After collapsing over time, it was rebuilt to its original design in the 16th year of the Qianlong era (1751) by the Tusi county magistrate Mo Jinglong. The bridge was constructed using dry-laid square bluestone blocks without mortar for the joints. Featuring a single pier with two arches, it is topped with stone slabs and guarded by slabstone railings, giving it an elegant, classic appearance. The bridge is 36 meters long, built in a stepped formation, with over 10 stone steps at each end. The bridge deck is 3.3 meters wide and served as a vital passage for villagers from western Silian to reach the Silian market. In the early years of the Republic of China, the bridge collapsed again. In the 14th year of the Republic (1925), local gentry such as Liu Lianhui initiated a fundraising campaign to rebuild the bridge to its original form, once more preserving the architectural style of the Ming Dynasty. The clear water flowing beneath the bridge, coupled with the shimmering reflections of its arches rippling on the surface, earned it the poetic name “Swinging Arches Over Rippling Waves,” and it is recognized as one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Silian. In 1984, the bridge was listed as a county-level key cultural relic protection site.