Waterway revetments and ancient bridges in Luzhi Town

Waterway revetments and ancient bridges in Luzhi Town

The waterway revetments and ancient bridges in Luzhi Town are protected cultural heritage sites of Suzhou City.

Luzhi is known as the hometown of ancient bridges, with a bridge density of 48.3 bridges per square kilometer. Originally there were seventy-two and a half bridges, and now forty remain. The vast majority were built before the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty, with some dating back to the Song and Yuan dynasties. The bridges come in various styles—arched, round-arched, and beam-type—while their arches range from single to multiple spans. They are constructed from granite, Wukang stone, bluestone, and more, varying greatly in size and style, making them well worth seeing.

The Hefeng Bridge (also known as Zhongmei Bridge, the second one in the photo above), located at the northern end of Zhongshi, was built in the early Song Dynasty and is the oldest ancient bridge in town. This granite arch bridge uses bluestone for its arch rings and Wukang stone for its piers. Each paving stone on the bridge surface features delicate relief carvings with elegant patterns, all crafted from arched-back Wukang stone—a hallmark of Song Dynasty bridges.

The Dongmei Bridge (also called Jie'e Bridge, the third one in the photo above), situated west of the entrance to Tatong Lane in the eastern part of the town, was built during the Chenghua period of the Ming Dynasty and has a history of over 500 years. Its arch is a complete circle, allowing it to bear greater pressure than typical single-arch bridges. Due to its unique structure, it has been recorded in the history of Chinese bridges.

The Zhengyang Bridge (commonly known as Dongdaqiao, the fourth one in the photo above), located at the eastern end of the town’s market area, was built during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty. Initially named Qinglong Bridge, it was later called Zhenyang Bridge. It was rebuilt in the early Chongzhen era and renamed to its current title. It underwent multiple renovations during the Qing Dynasty. The bridge is constructed from Jinshan granite, standing tall and majestic. It is 58 meters long, with an arch height of 12 meters, a span of 10 meters, and a deck width of 5.2 meters. It features 66 stone steps and is the largest ancient bridge in Luzhi Town. At dawn, it is the first structure in town to greet the sunrise, hence its name. An inscription on the east side of the bridge reads: “The north renews old traces with new forms; the south is adorned with gold and silver around five beams.” On the west side: “The west welcomes the far-reaching source of the Song River; the east connects to the flourishing energy of Kunlun Ridge.” Standing on the bridge, you can take in the full view of the small town’s scenery. Viewing the moon’s reflection on the long bridge at night offers a special charm. This is one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Fuli, known as “Moonlit Rainbow Over the Water.”

These uniquely distinctive bridges represent the culmination of bridge-building craftsmanship in Suzhou’s water towns since the Song Dynasty, holding great value for both research and sightseeing. They are distributed across the crisscrossing waterways of the town, with bridge scenes and water reflections complementing each other, enriching the scenery of the ancient town.

In 1986, the waterway revetments and ancient bridges of Luzhi Town were designated as a cultural heritage protection area of Wu County.