Yiai Bridge

Yiai Bridge, located south of Gantang Market, spans the Dongban River and is a three-arch stone highway bridge. In the 26th year of the Kangxi reign during the Qing Dynasty (1687), local gentry including scholar Lu Yuyu and imperial examination candidate Liang Zhaorui raised funds in Gantang, receiving donations from residents of 80 villages, totaling 3,000 strings of cash, to build the bridge. It was hailed as the “finest bridge in the county” of Shui Chun [according to Volume 1 and Volume 2 of the Yongchun County Annals, 13th year of the Republic of China (1924)]. In the 29th year of the Republic of China (1940), the stone bridge was bombed by Japanese aircraft. The existing Yiai Bridge was reconstructed in the 36th year of the Republic of China (1947) to resemble the original. The current bridge is built with cut stones, measuring 60.5 meters in length and 4.5 meters in width, with three arches spanning 7.7, 8.25, and 7.85 meters respectively, and a load-bearing capacity of 13 tons. It features a simple yet classic design, and is both sturdy and practical.