Anlan Suspension Bridge

Anlan Suspension Bridge

The Anlan Suspension Bridge is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Also known as the "Anlan Bridge" or "Husband-and-Wife Bridge," the Anlan Suspension Bridge spans over 240 meters across the Min River, serving as a vital commercial route between western Sichuan and A'ba in ancient times, and acting as a link between the Tibetan, Han, and Qiang peoples. The bridge was first built before the Song Dynasty but was destroyed by war in the late Ming period.

The bridge is supported by wooden rafts and stone piers, with bamboo cables as thick as bowl rims stretched across the river, topped with wooden planks as the deck, and guarded by bamboo ropes on both sides. It stretches approximately 500 meters in length. The current bridge has been relocated over 100 meters downstream, with bamboo replaced by steel, and wooden pile piers replaced by concrete ones. Located at the Fish Mouth section of the Dujiangyan Dam, it is hailed as one of China’s Five Ancient Bridges and stands as the most iconic landscape of Dujiangyan. Before the bridge was built, the turbulent waves of the Min River made crossing extremely dangerous, giving rise to the folk saying, “You can walk every road under heaven, but you’ll dread the Min River ferry.”

On May 15, 1803, during the eighth year of the Jiaqing reign in the Qing Dynasty, a ferry capsized, resulting in over a hundred deaths. Deeply troubled by this tragedy, a local teacher named He Xiande and his wife studied the terrain, reviewed historical bridge-building records, consulted local water and carpentry workers, petitioned the authorities, and raised funds from all quarters. In May of the ninth year of the Jiaqing reign, they led villagers from the surrounding areas to begin construction. Before the bridge was completed, two woodcutters ignored warnings, attempted to cross the bridge against the wind, and tragically fell into the river and died. The local ferry boss bribed officials and falsely accused the builders of reckless endangerment. He Xiande died in despair. His wife, suppressing her grief, carried on her husband’s mission and completed the bridge. With wooden planks laid across and bamboo cables serving as railings, it became safe to cross, hence initially called the “Safe Crossing Bridge,” later renamed the “Anlan Bridge,” symbolizing the ability to cross the river fearlessly. Out of gratitude for the couple’s contributions, it was also known as the “Husband-and-Wife Bridge.”

Zipingpu Town: In 2014, with the approval of the People's Government of Sichuan Province, Dujiangyan City adjusted some of its administrative divisions. Zipingpu Town, Hongkou Township, and Cuiyuehu Town were abolished. The administrative areas of Zipingpu Town and Hongkou Township were incorporated into Longchi Town, while those of Cuiyuehu Town were incorporated into Qingchengshan Town.

Located at the head of the world cultural heritage site — Dujiangyan, Zipingpu Town covers an area of 23.5 square kilometers and is just a 30-minute drive from Chengdu. The Min River flows through the town, while the Baisha River provides ample water supply. Nestled among green hills and clear waters, the area enjoys warm winters, cool summers, distinct seasons, and a pleasant climate, along with... More details about Zipingpu Town++