Jingzhong Bridge

Jingzhong Bridge

Jingzhong Bridge is a cultural relic protection unit of Shanxi Province.

Jingzhong Bridge (Second Batch of Provincial-level Protected Sites)

Era: Yuan Dynasty

Address: On the Sha River, outside the Dongmen Gate, Dongguan, Chengqu District, Jincheng City, Shanxi Province

Jingzhong Bridge, also known as Yongji Bridge, is commonly referred to as Dongguan Bridge or East Grand Bridge. This ancient bridge in Jincheng’s old city area has served as a vital eastbound transportation route for Jincheng City, Shanxi Province, ever since the Zhi Zhou Prefecture period of the Qing Dynasty up to the present day. According to the "Zhi Zhou Prefecture Annals" from the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty, the bridge was originally built during the Yuan Dynasty's Zhizheng era (1341–1368), initially constructed as a wooden bridge. During the Ming Dynasty's Hongzhi era (1488–1505), it was rebuilt as a stone bridge, modeled after the grand arch design of the Jingde Bridge at Dongguan in Jincheng. It was reconstructed in the third year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1738) and underwent major repairs in the forty-eighth year (1783).

Jingzhong Bridge is a single-arch stone bridge with a slightly arched deck. The bridge is 16.55 meters long and 5.7 meters wide. The main structure consists of a single arch span that is 6.5 meters wide, constructed using 99 stone rings laid in parallel with staggered joints. Each arch stone is 0.62 meters thick, and no visible iron bands are used at the joints between the upper and lower stones. A single layer of protective arch stones is installed on the back of the arch. The outer surface of the arch ring is plain without carvings, while the keystone at the top of the arch features a carved animal face. A pair of long stone slabs are placed on either side of the bridge, with their outer ends carved in the shape of dragon heads. The bridge railing is low and simple, reflecting a common style seen on bridges from the Qing Dynasty.

Further Reading:

· Second Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Shanxi Province