Jishi Twin Bridges

Jishi Twin Bridges

The Jishi Twin Bridges are protected cultural heritage sites of Shanxi Province.

Jishi Twin Bridges (Fifth Batch of Provincial Cultural Heritage Sites)

Era: Jin and Ming Dynasties

Location: River section of Jishi River, Shangcun Town, Tunliu County, Changzhi City, 9.16 km from the county seat

The Jishi Twin Bridges are located in the river section of the Jishi River in Shangcun Town, Tunliu County, 9.16 km from the county seat. According to the Tunliu County Annals from the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty, “Jishui originates fifteen li northeast of the county in Nanhuzhuang, flows past Shiju Mountain, continues eastward for five li before entering the territory of Lucheng County, and then flows into the Zhuozhang River.” The Jishi River has now dried up. The former riverbed runs from northeast to southwest, crossing National Highway 208 and connecting to the Zhangze Reservoir. The twin bridges are located on either side of the highway, about 800 meters apart, both constructed as single-arch stone bridges with solid spandrels.

Xianji Bridge (West Bridge): Its founding date is unknown. To the south of the bridge lies Shangcun Village, and to the north is Xiaobeihe Village. The bridge deck is 38 meters long and 6.45 meters wide, built using the method of segmental arch construction, representing advanced bridge-building techniques of its time. This type of bridge was widely used in southern China. The bridge retains an early classical aesthetic and is considered a representative example of early-style arched bridges.

Jishi Bridge (East Bridge): Constructed in the 15th year of the Zhiyuan era of the Yuan Dynasty (1355), it lies south of Shangcun Village and north of Jishicun Village. The bridge deck is 53 meters long and 6.12 meters wide, built using continuous arch construction. It features sturdy construction and a unified design, making it a typical example of late traditional arched bridges. Source: Shanxi Provincial Bureau of Cultural Relics

Shangcun Town: A township under the administration of Tunliu County. Established as Shangcun People's Commune in 1958 and reorganized as a township in 1984. Located in the eastern part of the county, it is 15 km from the county seat. The town covers an area of 59 square kilometers and has a population of 2,000. National Highway 208 passes through the area. It administers 20 village committees: Shangcun, Quzhuang, Xipo, Xiaobeihe, Wangzhuang, Xindong, Xinxi, Gangtou, CuiShao, Dongcui, Xiaozhuang, Songdu, Lingshang, Jishi, Nangang, Xiaonan, Zhonghua, Situ, Xizhihe, and Chensi. The main agricultural products include corn, wheat, and potatoes. … Shangcun Town detailed information ++

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Shanxi Provincial Cultural Heritage Sites