Shengming Bridge

Shengming Bridge

Located at the mouth of Dongbaiyang Pond in Shengze Town, Wujiang District (this pond is also called Dongbaiyang or Lingyeduo).

Constructed in the 14th year of the Chongzhen reign during the Ming Dynasty (1641) by local residents Zhong Shiying, Gui Yuxian, Tang Sanpin, Shi Qin, and Wang Shilong. It was rebuilt in the 9th year of the Yongzheng reign of the Qing Dynasty (1731) through fundraising efforts by locals Zheng Yudian, Chen Shunyu, Ye Dianwen, and Song Yuzhao. On July 1, 1986, it was designated as a cultural relic protection unit of Wujiang County. In 1991, the local government carried out restoration work on the bridge.

A three-arch stone bridge oriented from north to south. The total length is 46.94 meters, with a central width of 4.25 meters and an abutment width of 5.45 meters. The central arch is larger, with a rise of 5.39 meters and a span of 10.7 meters, facilitating boat passage. The two side arches are smaller, both with a rise of 4.21 meters and a span of 8.43 meters. The overall form of the bridge is gracefully shaped. The arches were built using the method of vertical jointing with segmental voussoirs. The facing walls are entirely made of bluestone, the railing stones are mostly bluestone, the arch stones are Wukang stone, and the rest are granite. The east-facing couplet reads: “Auspiciously arching over the tremor screen, the rainbow soars high, magnificent for a thousand autumns; joy fills the universe, the new moon is full, bringing peace and plenty to ten thousand homes.” In this couplet, “universe” and “tremor” are two of the eight trigrams, representing respectively heaven, earth, thunder, and wind—here metaphorically symbolizing all things in the human world. “Peace and plenty” refers to wealth and tranquility, expressing the hope of the people of Shengze for eternal happiness, wealth, and peace. The west-facing couplet reads: “Geese-toothed parapets span the dike, near the white pond where five streams converge; dragon-waisted bridge spans the crossing, far linking three loops to the vast sea.” In this couplet, “white pond” is the ancient name for Lingyeduo. “Five convergences” refer to Lingyeduo, which receives water from the town river to the west, from Dongxiu Bridge and Dongjing Bridge to the south, from Baijia Bridge to the northwest, and from Daifu Bridge to the northeast. In ancient times, its configuration was referred to as “five convergences,” flowing eastward into the main channel. Because Shengming Bridge regulates the waters of five rivers, it was once named “Wuju Bridge” (Five Convergences Bridge) before being renamed to its current title.

The bridge spans a broad expanse of water, and its towering structure, together with the reflections cast amidst the floral trees along the bank, creates the appearance of one large and two smaller jade-like rings in the water. Looking eastward through the bridge, there is sky beyond the arches, with rice fields mirrored in the water, houses along the shore, and wisps of cooking smoke, presenting a picturesque scene of the water town.

Source: Wujiang Archives Bureau

Shengze Town: Located at the southernmost tip of Jiangsu Province and within the Taihu Lake Basin, Shengze Town features vast fertile plains, numerous lakes and ponds, a warm climate, and abundant rainfall, making it highly suitable for growing rice and wheat, as well as for sericulture. It is a renowned land of fish and rice, as well as a capital of silk. The town covers an area of 118 square kilometers, including a built-up urban area of 22 square kilometers. It has a permanent population of 180,000, including 107,000 registered residents and approximately 70,000 migrant workers and merchants. Shengze Town is an economic hub of Wujiang District, particularly prominent in industrial output.

Shengze Town is an economic hub of Wujiang District, particularly prominent in industrial output... More details about Shengze Town ++