Nanda Bridge

Nanda Bridge

Nanda Bridge

Nanda Bridge, situated over ten kilometers southwest of ZhenTai Township, earned its name due to the immense difficulty encountered during its construction on the sheer cliffs of the rugged Nanda River.

According to the "Newly Compiled Yunnan General Annals · Geography Volume · Bridges and Ferries": “This bridge was built between the cliffs on both riverbanks, with piers set directly into the rock faces, forming an arched stone bridge. The project was massive, reaching over nine zhang in height (approx. 30 meters), one zhang in width (approx. 3.3 meters), and three zhang in length (approx. 10 meters). To the south, there was a tile-roofed house, making it one of the grandest constructions of modern times.” The bridge stands 14 meters high, 2 meters wide, and 5 meters long. It was once a vital route for travelers heading from Linjiang, Jinggu, Simao, and Pu'er to Jingdong, Dali, Tibet, Sichuan, and Weishan, among other inland destinations. Even today, it remains a frequently used passage.

Beneath the bridge, the Nanda River surges with rolling rocks and deep, mysterious currents. Legend has it that a benevolent yet wrathful black dragon once lived in the river. It would lend out golden and silver kitchenware—such as pots, bowls, ladles, and basins—to families celebrating weddings or happy occasions. However, the items had to be returned thoroughly cleaned. Failure to do so would enrage the dragon, causing the river to churn violently day and night, disturbing both humans and animals. In the middle of the river lies a tall, slippery stone ledge that faces the bridge. Water cascades down from the ledge like a waterfall. Legend also says that a thick vine, as big around as a bowl, was stretched horizontally at the midsection of the ledge, connecting the two sides of the bridge.

Fish from below the ledge would try to leap up and onto the vine, which would gently bounce them up onto the ledge. One day, a carpenter staying overnight in the tile-roofed house by the bridge heard the sound of wood being chopped outside during the night. He threw his hatchet in that direction, and the chopping noise immediately stopped. When he went outside at dawn, he saw bloodstains on the ground—the hatchet had struck the giant vine. The carpenter then picked up his axe, completely severed the vine from its roots, and threw it into the river to float away. From that day on, the fish below the ledge could no longer leap up to the top.

Address: Zhenyuan County, Pu'er City, Yunnan Province