Nangjiang Tianqiao (Natural Bridge)

Nangjiang Tianqiao

Tianqiao is an ancient relic from prehistoric times, located on Shanan Road, one kilometer uphill from Luoping Street, situated in the middle of Huangbo Forest. It is one of the scenic landmarks of Nangjiang. The bridge is 38 meters long, 8 meters wide, with a thickness of 4.7 meters at its arched center, and stands 32 meters above the ground. It is entirely composed of solid rock. Despite enduring long-term erosion from wind and rain, not a single stone has come loose. It looks as though it were carved by human hands and has been admired by visitors throughout the ages.

According to existing inscriptions: “Gong Jian, a descendant of the Gong family from Tongjiang, who was a Jiaoyu (education official) in Yingyi County, Huguang Prefecture, passed the imperial examination for the Gengzi year during the Ming Dynasty. He engaged in trade here and found this place to be truly a paradise. He was repeatedly blessed by the divine, had his basic needs met, and thus settled here. His son, Gong Yousheng, noticed that although temples had been added, the permanent property had not been established, and he feared that the incense offerings would not be sustainable. Therefore, in the 26th year of the Daoguang reign, he donated a deed for a piece of land and a house purchased from Chen Dagang, worth one million strings of cash, with a land tax of one point five per cent, to the Guanyin and Wenchang shrines under Tianqiao, to be used permanently as a site for lamps and blessings. Every festival, monks would hold ceremonies to support it. His wife, Madam Li, sold her gold and silver jewelry to renovate the side rooms and glorify the statues of the deities. The festival leaders Ke Jinfu and Wu Xionghui, seeing the whole family doing good deeds, erected a stone stele in the 29th year of the Daoguang reign to commemorate their virtue. Before the founding of the People’s Republic of China, there were 15 mu of permanent property, which were distributed to farmers during the land reform, but a 30-meter-long temple building was retained. It was later destroyed during the Cultural Revolution.”

Tianqiao

The temple is built atop the bridge, rising high into the sky; its flying eaves drip with vermilion hues, overlooking the earth and heavens. Surrounded by Huangbo trees, the outline of the shrine peeks out halfway, while the incense inside burns brightly and the lingering echoes of bells and chimes reverberate. Below the bridge flows a spring, warm in winter and cool in summer, clear and refreshing, flowing ceaselessly. During severe droughts, people flock here to carry water or drink to quench their thirst. Behind the bridge lies a large gully, where during the rainy season, waterfalls cascade down like the Water Curtain Cave of the Flower-Fruit Mountain. The shrine soars above, enveloped in clouds and mist; the Huangbo trees provide cover, making it appear and disappear intermittently; morning bells and evening drums ring out, Buddhist chants are pleasing to the ear, bright lights and curling incense delight the eye; cool breezes blow gently, and the spring water tinkles melodiously.

Legend has it that this temple was first built during the Tang Dynasty and renovated during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. In front of the temple stands a character pavilion over three meters tall that recorded the construction details, but unfortunately, it was destroyed in war, leaving no documentation behind, except for one couplet that has been accurately transcribed: “The lofty pavilion towers into the sky—only divine craftsmanship could have brought it here; the flying bridge spans the great chasm—who knows how many years it has existed since its birth?”

In 1992, Buddhist devotees Chen Shilian and Chen Shigui donated 7,000 yuan to lead the reconstruction effort, receiving strong support from the public and visitors. In 1997, Shi Chuanlin and Shi Faxin from the Bazhong Buddhist Association brought over 30,000 yuan from Gannusi and Fo’ersi to contribute to the project. After nearly ten years of continued construction, the main hall, Buddha hall, meditation rooms, and guest rooms are now all complete. The seven-meter-tall, eleven-headed Thousand-Hand-Thousand-Eye Guanyin statue is the only one of its kind in the city. Covering a total area of 850 square meters, it can accommodate tourists for long-term stays. During festival periods, visitors flock here, and incense offerings remain prosperous year-round. It is a paradise for summer retreats and leisure, as well as a sacred site for learning and travel. (Zhao Xixia)