Bixi Longmenxi Bridge

Bixi Longmenxi Bridge

Address: Group 2, Shimaizi Village, Yong’an Town, Tongjiang County

Bixi Longmenxi Bridge is composed of the “Dongdao Bridge” and the “Xiguan Bridge.” Between the two bridges is a small raised hill, with a distance of 59 meters between them. Both are single-arch stone bridges, oriented northeast–southwest, spanning two stream gullies on either side of the upper reaches of Longmenxi.

The Dongdao Bridge spans a natural stream gully of Chuanshan River, at 32°9′50″N, 107°18′59″E, with an elevation of 636 meters (measured at the center of the bridge deck). The bridge is 15.36 meters long and 3 meters wide, and stands 9 meters above the river surface. Its arch has a span of 8 meters, and both ends are connected by stone stairways. The stone stairway on the northeast end is 2 meters wide. Walking 40 meters southwest from there stands a round-headed stele, 0.53 meters wide, 1.13 meters high, and 0.06 meters thick, inscribed vertically with the three characters “Longmenxi.” About 10 meters above the “Longmenxi” stele lies the site of the Longmenxi Kuige Pavilion. Nineteen meters ahead is the Xiguan Bridge.

The Xiguan Bridge spans the Taopangzi stream gully, at 32°9′49″N, 107°18′56″E, with an elevation of 645 meters (measured at the center of the bridge deck). It is 17 meters long and 3 meters wide, and stands 7 meters above the river surface. Its arch has a span of 8 meters, and both ends are connected by stone stairways—one leads to the Dongdao Bridge, the other to Heitanyan Village and Shimaizi Village.

Longmenxi was an important junction on the ancient Yang (Yangzhou, now Yang County in Shaanxi) – Bi (Bizhou, now Tongjiang in Sichuan) Road. Traveling eastward from here, one could reach the south gate of Desheng City directly, and proceed via Yong’an, Nixi, Changping, and Lianghekou to Yang County. Traveling westward, one could reach Heitanyan Village, Shimaizi Village, and Huotiangang Tea Farm; heading downstream to Yancreek, one could continue via Changsheng, Washi, and Maoyu to Tongjiang County. Both bridges are well-preserved and still in use today.