Yuling Bridge

Yuling Bridge

Yuling Bridge is located at Chongkou Yong in Xinghua Street, Fangcun Avenue East, Liwan District. Within the jurisdiction of Chongkou Subdistrict, it spans the Dachongkou Yong. The bridge was built in the mid-Qing Dynasty. Its name, "Yuling," meaning "nurturing spiritual essence," comes from the area’s historical affiliation with Zhongxiu Township, symbolizing the concept of "gathering refined spiritual energy from a beautiful land."

The exact construction date of the bridge is hard to confirm, with some saying it was built in the Ming Dynasty and others in the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty. The name "Yuling" refers to the area's former designation as Zhongxiu Township, symbolizing the idea of "gathering refined spiritual energy from a beautiful land." The bridge is 25 meters long and 2.04 meters wide, divided into three sections. The central main span is 7.6 meters long, while the two side spans are each 6.25 meters. Stone stair-like approach ramps are found at both ends. The bridge deck consists of 15 intact stone slabs, each 40 centimeters wide and thick. The two piers are 2 meters wide and thick, with their lower portions shaped like boats to reduce water resistance. Each bridge railing is made up of seven 20-centimeter-thick, 72-centimeter-high stone slabs, interspersed with eight 90-centimeter-high stone pillars. The entire stone bridge features a tight structure and a simple, classic design, with no carved patterns or decorations. The materials used are hardy blue granite stones.

Historically, Yuling Bridge was a major transportation route, connecting to the Shengfo Avenue to the north and leading south to Pingzhou in Nanhai. During the Qing Dynasty, the areas on both sides of the river were already bustling commercial districts with a relatively developed culture (the Mianzhou Academy was located here). Scholars who passed the imperial examinations would return home in glory by boat, passing under Yuling Bridge, which earned it the nickname "Dragon Gate." Locals believed that the bridge locked in the spiritual essence of the Chongkou landscape, which contributed to the emergence of many talented individuals in the area. Additionally, the "Dragon Gate" often served as the finish line for dragon boat races—the gateway to victory. During these races, firecrackers hung from the bridge, prize banners fluttered below, and the riverbanks were packed with spectators.

In the past, this bridge was the most important thoroughfare in Fangcun, linking the ancient Fangcun Road to the north that connected to Shengfo, and the stone-paved road to the south via Xilang and Chigang that reached Pingzhou in Nanhai. The surrounding area was thriving, with numerous shops lining both sides of the bridge, including over 100 establishments such as teahouses, butcher shops, traditional Chinese medicine stores, and mountain goods shops. However, after the fall of Guangzhou in 1938, the Japanese army demolished all the shops and low-rise buildings around Yuling Bridge and built warehouses there to store wartime supplies. To this day, both riverbanks remain concentrated areas for grain and oil storage facilities.

In the mid-1960s after the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the bridge was still the necessary passage to the Chongkou ferry terminal. Later, with the construction of Fangcun Avenue, the bridge lost its role as a transport hub. Due to years of neglect, the bridge suffered severe damage. It was restored in the autumn of 1990. Today, it presents a picturesque scene with an old bridge over flowing water, surrounded by blooming flowers, green trees, fluttering butterflies, and singing birds. In 1993, the bridge was listed by the Guangzhou Municipal People’s Government as a key municipal cultural relic protection unit.

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Guangzhou Municipal Cultural Relics Protection Units