Cai's Bridge

Cai's Bridge

Cai's Bridge

Located downstream of Puweng Bridge on the essential Zhijin–Qingzhen Highway, the river valley is deep and the current swift, with a steep peak rising not far away and cliffs towering thousands of feet high. In front of the cliff spans a single bridge — this was one of the ancient post road bridges connecting Zhijin to the provincial capital of Guiyang in the past, known as Cai's Bridge.

This bridge was first built in the 22nd year of the Jiaqing reign of the Qing Dynasty (1817 AD), and is said to have been constructed by the local Cai family. It is a single-arch stone bridge with contiguous masonry construction. The bridge is 21 meters long and 5.7 meters wide, with a flat deck. The arch apex is about 15 meters above the water surface, and there are no parapet stone barriers on either side. On the central “peak stones” on both sides of the bridge, there are two relief-carved dragon heads, symbolizing the playful dance of dragons in water. One end of the bridge is accessed by steps ascending from the ancient path along the rock wall, while the other end has no steps. About 20 meters from the bridge, there are two cliff inscriptions on the rock face: one features four large regular-script characters in intaglio — “Ping Xiu Gu Dao” (Repairing the Ancient Road) — each character roughly 80 cm square, displaying bold and elegant calligraphy, inscribed by Chen Keshen, a successful candidate in the imperial examination (Juren) of the Ren Shen year during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty; the other is an inscription in running script, also carved in intaglio: “By the Emperor’s teaching, we repair the rugged paths of hundreds of years and build bridges for millions to cross. Those who tread this bridge and walk this path in the future will be moved by these words.” It was inscribed by Chen Shouzhuo, a successful candidate in the imperial examination (Juren) of the Yi Mao year during the Qianlong reign. Today, the bridge remains well-preserved, and the cliff inscriptions are still clearly legible.