Qiongfeng Bridge

Qiongfeng Bridge

Constructed in 1925, Qiongfeng Bridge is located on the Shundi River in Sanchahe Town, Fengqing County. It serves as a wooden covered bridge linking the east and west sections of the town.

“In the 14th year of the Republic of China (1925), local residents Gong Chenglong, Li Zhen, Zhao Fuzeng, Zhao Fusheng, Xi Fochang, along with other community members, pooled funds to construct this bridge” (from the Shunning County Annals).

The bridge is a totem for the villagers, carrying their beautiful wishes and dreams.

Through the vicissitudes of time, countless rains and mists have swept over this bridge.

There are few written records about this covered bridge. Sanchahe Township is not a well-connected area either—it lies in a remote and isolated corner at the border between Yun County and Fengqing County. Since ancient times, it has never been a bustling hub for merchants, nor a gathering place for talented individuals. As such, even among the people of Lincang, very few know of or have visited this bridge.

Its sudden appearance is almost like a flash of inspiration, only coming to light when it surfaced during the third cultural relics survey conducted by Lincang City. Today, this ancient bridge has been listed as a provincial-level cultural heritage site. A nearly hundred-year-old wooden covered bridge, hidden away in a remote mountain nook, has survived the test of time and met us today—surely a meeting of fate.

The main structure of the bridge is made of wood, featuring a bridge house, bridge pavilion, and railings. The bridge is 40 meters long and 3.5 meters wide, making it the longest-spanning wooden covered bridge still in existence in Lincang City, as well as the longest in the entire county. Before the 1970s–80s, it served as the primary thoroughfare connecting the two riverbanks, and it remains in use to this day.

The choice to build the bridge from wood was mainly due to Sanchahe being a mountainous township with dense forests and easy access to timber. There was no need to transport construction materials from elsewhere, making it the most practical option for the villagers. Building with wood saved on labor and resources, and if any part decayed, it could be easily replaced.

Ordinary pieces of wood, with no nails or rivets, have created a century-long legend of endurance.

This wooden covered bridge is a beam bridge. To accommodate its large span, two square wooden cantilevers extend from the piers toward the river center, layering out in six tiers to support the central crossbeams forming the bridge deck. Using the piers as fulcrums, diagonal beams are added to reinforce the structure. The upper section features an arched roof built with saddle frames, while the diagonal beams suspend and support the main girders of the bridge deck, enhancing the load-bearing capacity of the long-span wooden beam bridge.

The sides of the bridge gallery are shielded with rectangular wooden boards forming eaves, which serve both as railings and connectors for the bridge framework. These guardrails fully cover the bridge gallery to reduce sun and rain erosion and reinforce the structural integrity.

The bridge deck is designed as a flat arch bridge, with longitudinal planks laid atop the transverse boards in the center to serve as a pathway for pack animals like mules, horses, cattle, and sheep. This setup evenly distributes weight and facilitates passage.

Both ends of the bridge are covered with bridge houses, weighted down with timber, tiles, and bricks to secure all pressure points—the more they are compressed, the firmer and flatter the bridge becomes. The bridge houses consist of two stories: the lower level features a stable, double-eaved design that is rustic and dignified, while the narrow upturned eaves are delicate and lively. The roof is covered with grey tiles, and the ridge decorations are whitewashed. The lintel above the east bridge gate reflects the typical Han Chinese architecture of the Republican era, inscribed with the three Chinese characters “Dongfeng Bridge” (East Wind Bridge) handwritten by locals.

Though the bridge has two names, local residents still prefer to call it “Qiongfeng Bridge.” During the Republican era, Sanchahe Township was known as “Qiongying Township,” and nearby there is also the scenic “Qiongying Cave,” said to be well worth a visit.

Inside the bridge gallery, wooden benches on both sides offer spots for rest. These rough, solid benches, worn smooth over time with deep cracks, seem to retain the imprints of those who once sat upon them—filled with the warmth of daily life. Some benches are deliberately placed at a 45-degree angle, presumably to allow passersby to lean and rest more comfortably—an insight into the builder’s thoughtful craftsmanship.

Lost in sitting, one realizes how close the clouds and water feel.

Looking up the sloped path toward the bridge, sunlight streams through one side of the gallery, creating a play of light and shadow. Standing inside the bridge, with a gentle river breeze and the murmur of flowing water, an expanse of green stretches before your eyes. Trees and rocks are interspersed in harmony, exuding a rich, moist vitality. Without the noise of vehicles, and only the occasional passerby—a farmer on their way to work—the rural pace of life feels even slower and more leisurely here. Sitting in the cool shade of the covered bridge, listening to the murmuring stream, you’re enveloped in the same poetic tranquility Li Yu described: “Lost in sitting, one realizes how close the clouds and water feel.”

Looking upward through the wooden beams beneath the bridge gallery, one can appreciate the precision of its construction. The timber is thick, solid, and full of texture. The roof’s supports rest on individual bracket sets (dougong), each crafted from carefully shaped wooden pieces, assembled ingeniously together. The joints between components are connected via mortise-and-tenon joints, forming a resilient framework. Despite the seemingly rough appearance of the original logs, the construction hides the masterful craftsmanship of skilled artisans. Each joint, every clasp and ring, is a masterpiece of precise fastening, ensuring that even decades after its completion, the bridge has not shifted, tilted, or collapsed.

Over a century of shelter has made the covered bridge an integral part of life in Sanchahe Township. The stream flows gently alongside it, and settlements have gradually formed around the wooden structure—residences and streets clustered near the banks. On the western side of the bridge deck lies a lively market. A cluster of village buildings, spread out along the gentle slope of the hills, outlines the township, painted in muted grey tones. To the east of the bridge gate, a rugged stone path stretches into the vast fields, gradually forming the village’s network of pathways. It connects the wildlands in all directions, and the daily life of the villagers is ordered by this bridge, presenting an orderly yet reverent reflection of rural tradition.

The tradition of painting the bridge body red expresses a worldly pursuit of joy and celebration. Its graceful curves, dynamic corridors, blue-tiled roof, and crimson bridge body outline the essence of traditional Chinese culture. All things crafted by the ancients in China—whether pagodas or buildings—were always in harmonious balance with the surrounding landscape. Take this covered bridge, for instance: the water wraps around the village like a ribbon, and the bridge’s size forms a beautifully proportioned relationship with the mountains. Naturally integrated into its environment, this bridge perfectly marries utility with artistry, making it a model of bridge design in Lincang.

Despite multiple renovations over the years, the bridge remains well-preserved, as though it slipped through the tunnel of time and was spared from historical upheavals. It has accompanied the people of Sanchahe through day-to-day life, morning and night.

A heavy, solid creation of nature, it rests peacefully on the earth. Tranquil, majestic, stripped of any sharpness—only the quiet murmur of passing years remains.

Approaching the ancient bridge, you realize its face is full of life, warmth, and character—not cold and lifeless like photos on a screen. It offers a sense of presence: the footsteps of those who once crossed, the lingering warmth of the builders long gone, all still seem to linger here. You can almost envision the surroundings, the emotions, and the mindset of that bygone era.

The covered bridge is like a jar, holding the local customs, people, and stories. It weaves together the everyday lives of the Sanchahe residents. Compared to modern concrete and steel bridges, it carries the lingering charm of the Republican era.

Time may fade, but solitude makes her all the more beautiful.

Describing the process of building a wooden covered bridge could fill a thick volume, complete with numerous precautions and taboos. “Slow work yields fine results”—this saying holds perfectly true. From selecting the timber to felling and assembling it, every step is treated with the utmost seriousness. Construction must begin on an auspicious date, because bridge-building is an act that benefits the community and concerns the safety of others. The builders carry great responsibility and pour their hearts into every detail. With carefully chosen materials, skilled craftsmanship, and the patience of slow, meticulous work, a bridge that lasts a century can truly be created. Thus, the meaning carried by this bridge goes far beyond being just a crossing.

Who was the designer of this bridge? In the lonely passage of time, accompanied only by the sound of flowing water, he might never have imagined that this remote corner of the world could one day flourish like a busy city. Not far from it, a new reinforced concrete highway bridge has been built, replacing the wooden covered bridge. One belongs to history, the other to the modern age—they coexist harmoniously along the same river: one guarding poetry, the other showcasing vitality. The winding mountain roads have turned into asphalt highways, slicing through the landscape like arrows.

Now, he is gone, his bones turned to dust, resting peacefully in the earth. The bridges he built remain in the real world, and in this way, he has become part of our memory.

Where have they all gone? The bustling merchants from all directions, the sturdy farmers and pretty young wives who loved to banter and tease, the old women in blue robes and patched shoes, and the passionate words of young men and women experiencing love for the first time — all have vanished along with the rushing waters beneath the bridge. Many vivid people and moments have been separated from us by this bridge, cast into another time and space.

Here, no other structure holds as much memory or carries as many symbols as this covered bridge. The weight of footsteps, the clamor of voices, the fatigue of labor on the land — all are hidden within this bridge. Longing, dreams, desires, and regrets also swirl in this narrow space.

Nowadays, the covered bridge seems rather lonely, its frequent visitors limited mostly to the wind. The wind sneaks in and out through the wood grain, entwining itself around the crossbeams and main beams.

Those who appreciate ancient bridges often have a longing for the past or dreams of another kind. The reason Qiongfeng Bridge is so memorable lies in the harmony, grandeur, and understated beauty it embodies. Modern young people may not necessarily appreciate its simplicity and practicality, nor fully grasp the poetic charm it holds under spring blossoms and autumn moons. But if we truly quiet our hearts and face it, that sense of antiquity and tranquility is indeed rare to come by.

Sanchahe Town: The name “Sanchahe” (meaning “Three Forks River”) comes from the location of the town government, which sits at the confluence of the Shundian River, Yongjin River, and Songhua River. Sanchahe Town is located in the southern part of the county, with the town government based in Sanchahe Street, 65 kilometers from the county seat. The total area is 282.4 square kilometers. It borders Xueshan Town to the southeast, connects to Luodang and Fengshan towns to the northeast, meets Yingpan Town of Guodazhai Township to the southwest, and is adjacent to Mengyou Town to the northwest. The highest elevation is 3,098.7 meters, and the lowest is 1,242 meters. The average annual temperature is 15°C, with an annual rainfall of 1,900 millimeters.

The town administers 13 village committees and 92... More detailed information about Sanchahe Town ++